Friday, August 14, 2009

Photo Shoot Out - Relaxation

I started to plan a really convoluted and humorous spread on relaxation for this week's shootout with comments by Butler and Bagman. We could research neuroscience and dream theory. Find pictures of hammocks and cots and beds. Then we could...but instead we all fell asleep so I was left with only four pictures to post this week. So...yawn...see you when I wake up.

Karen took this while I was lolling around with some other cute chick.

Looking back, I discovered that the person who has been best at relaxation, however, is Brian. And since I have learned that he and Melody regularly and anonymously visit my site, I thought I'd make him cringe by a short history of the Art of Relaxation by Brian.

2003 -- Karen seems pretty relaxed too.
A cruise will do that...why I was awake I don't know.

2004 -- Nintendo is relaxing
Snowball doesn't seem interested -- probably because
unlike the computer, Nintendo does not have a "mouse"

2006 -- Brian and I went camping
Again, the question: Why am I always the one standing up?
The chore of being a photographer
Oops! I bragged too soon...
Brian got this one of me.

And, I'm not sure I look that relaxed. I think I was pretending to relax but actually obsessing on whether we were going to burn down the Marion National Forest. I can't speak for Brian, but I'm not the heroic, professional camper that I appear. We took these on the first of a planned three-day camping trip. After the fire dimmed, we crawled into the tent where, despite mattress pads, I kept turning over all night like a chicken on a rotisserie trying to put less pressure on sore bones which, by three a.m. consisted of my entire skeleton. In the morning, we woke up...except for me since I had been awake since three a.m. and it was chillier than we expected and, being amateurs, we had not considered protecting our firewood from getting wet from dew. In fact, we had not bothered to actually get any additional firewood. And since, although it looks like we were in the middle of wilderness, we were only 40 minutes from home, we threw everything in the car and zoomed back where Karen got a good laugh and we got warm.

But back to the theme of Brian and relaxing...I don't seem to have any shots of either him or Melody relaxing since our grandson, Conner, was born. My guess is that they relax when we watch Conner and I'm not around with my camera. And they are probably glad of that!

But Conner relaxes. Karen sees to that!

At The Charleston Aquarium
Conner doesn't seem interested in fish
and Karen seems very happy just to hold him
although she doesn't get to relax.

Oops! Mispoke again...here she gets to relax too!

My niece, Gracie relaxing...

And Snowball and Bill relax all the time...even with eyes open

And speaking of the history of relaxation...

BAGMAN: "Wait a minute! Who was speaking about the history of relaxation.

BUTLER: "Give him a break...it's just a transition statement to provide continuity to the next picture when actually there isn't any continuity at all!

Civil War soldiers sometimes relaxed
Therefore modern re-enactors re-enact relaxation.

And finally (or almost finally)
from the San Diego Zoo, circa 1969

"Why do tourists always beat their chests at me?
I need another aspirin."

And finally, (this time really finally) below, is one from Bagman.
He insisted that I include it so that you all would know he was still alive and well.

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And on that pleasant thought, to all a goodnight....ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz




33 comments:

  1. Your photos of relaxation make me smile. I enjoyed them all. I see different positions of relaxation. Thanks for sharing. I

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  2. I love the pics of Karen holding the baby. They are so sweet.

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  3. You have a very relaxed family. Linda and I have had camping trips like that!

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  4. Yes we have camped. Sleeping on the ground all night now? Nope. Not anymore. Seeing Karen holding the baby is so beautiful and I really want my guys to return from their vacations soon. I miss my baby love! This is a very relaxing shoot. B&B. Your gorilla looks like he'd enjoy camping out under the stars. Maybe you could take him on your next camping trip. Roxie, gorillas and alligators......... maybe not so much.

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  5. HAHAHAHA!
    You always make me smile.
    And, you know, you can take pictures while sitting, slouching, even lying down in a boneless puddle.

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  6. Too funny agree with sciencegirl - hard to not smile when reading your blog.

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  7. As far as the photos go I love the one of Karen and grand baby. Very nice. I'm partial to cats so I have to go with the Himalayan cats. I also like the civil war photo and the campfire (reminds me of Africa). The 1969 photo makes me wonder what I was doing in 69 (a bit fuzzy on that year).

    I know you are trying to fool us by saying Bagman is back because if Bagman was around there would be two girls in that last photo.

    Very relaxing post, Mark. I do want to know about the sculpture in the first photo.

    Have a great weekend!

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  8. Once again you made me smile. I do hope that Brian isn't to mad at you and allows you to keep Connor again soon, not that would stop him from free baby sitting, just saying.
    Have a relaxing weekend.

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  9. Every time I read your posts, I laugh so hard I have tears in my eyes.

    The camping story is too funny! And, your caption for the gorilla picture - priceless!

    Karen must be pretty cool - I would have used that photo of you and the "other chick" as blackmail of some sort...

    Have a wonderful weekend, give Roxie, Sally, and Daisy each a hug from me.
    :)

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  10. OH MY...the baby shots are so precious..and the sweetness of relaxtion is definitely shared well through your photos :)

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  11. Such a fun read! Loved each photo.

    I do word seeks in pen because... I simply cannot see the pencil marks on the page :-) It was hard to have neat circling for the picture :-D

    Have a great weekend!

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  12. Wow!! there is a lot of relaxing going on in your part of the world! love the camping and cruise shots. so nice! Great shoot out B&B!!

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  13. ahhh...Karen holding the baby was the best of all the photos...most relaxing!
    Nicely done!
    ~AM

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  14. Wonderful post - made me giggle as always! The baby pictures...so sweet!! Have a relaxing weekend! Sarah

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  15. Your post always make me laugh. I need every laugh I can get these days. Daughter Rachel had to go back to hospital today. Severe Vomiting. Great pictures. Love the ones with the baby. Camp fire looks mighty cozy.
    QMM

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  16. Oh dear you got me laughing too ...

    Loved Karen holding the baby ....

    And the camping story where you gave up and went home was hilarious!

    And the cruise ..I am in the process of booking myself on a cruise in the south pacific!! SO brave of me ...I've never done anything like it.

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  17. Well, like everyone else, you got me laughing! Just what I needed about now, too. The baby and Karen look so sweet! Great shots! Hope you sleep better next trip!

    Enjoy the weekend and get a good nap!

    Sylvia

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  18. You are a hoot, simply a hoot each week!

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  19. Too bad you said that one 'historic' photo was a re-enactment...I thought you were going to write that you were a war photographer. Hmmm, relaxing seems to be a popular topic with you.

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  20. That's my kind of camping boys! Too hilarious, oops! I mean relaxing. Hi Brian and Melody!!!!

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  21. Love the cats -- I'd love to be that fully embodied. And I would never have GONE camping, so coming home early is something I fully endorse. Conner is adorable. And Bagman is too funny!

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  22. Your sense of humor always comes through in every shoot out. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. Your camping story reminded me so much of my dad. I do wish I'd listened a bit more attentively to his camping stories. Camping was his main form of relaxation. Not my thing, I'd rather stretch out on the beach beside the couple in the last photo. To each his own, huh?

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  24. Ahh, thanks for the gut laughs. My husband, who is relaxing, wondered what I was laughing about.

    And that Gracie is a doll. Well, you all are.

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  25. Great pictures!!!! Just getting caught up on my blog reading. Happy Sunday!

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  26. all that those relaxing photos is making me want to do some relaxing of my own

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  27. He, he, v. entertaining photos and captions. Connor is so cute! You could make a photo essay of his cute baby feet alone.

    A photo shoot of the pony tail guy you saw in the library would have been nice to see. Those creative impulses...they tell you possibilities you are fully capable of, I think.

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  28. really off track, I hope you know that Karen has beautiful legs. maybe thats why you can't relax. good combination of photos.

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  29. markk i loved this blog simply because the picture of brian camping is the only picture he could send me over the net the day before we met each other brings back so many memories we love ya

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  30. Glad Bagman got his shot in there!

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  31. Oh how cozy everyone looks! Yawwwnnnn...I'm sleepy now.

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  32. It must be nice to be so warped, and not live a humm drumm life. I enjoyed it.

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