Christmas Shopping

It is a brutal thing. Scouring Wal-Mart or the mall for those last-minute, must have gifts for loved ones. "Why didn't you do this last week or many weeks ago?" you might ask. Well to you I say, "Where's the fun in that?"

You see going to a department store when Christmas is a mere 5 days hence is an experience unique. Unlike anything else, last minute shopping is the Super Bowl of shopping. The season finale of shopping. Is it fun? Not really. Is it necessary? Absolutely. For without a last minute adventure—bonus adventure points if your last minute shopping is done on Christmas Eve—the holiday season would be without spice.

So think of something really nice that you would like to get for someone close, and wait until hours, nay even minutes remain before you make that purchase. And let the fun times begin.

Merry Christmas to all!

Chris

More from the Park

As mentioned in a previous post, a trip to a local exotic animal park proved not only an entertaining outing but also an interesting photographic opportunity. Chain link fences between subject and photographer all but disappear when using the proper focal length (see lioness photo at left).


An incredibly tame deer mugged
for my camera.


I held a squirmy little ferrett.


My entire family posed in front
of a teepee.

The King

Fences or not, standing 3 feet in front of a fully-gown male lion that is growling at you is a humbling experience. Its been years since I can remember being truly afriad of another living creature. Not a scary, run-for-the-hills fear, but more of a standing-in-an-awesome-prescence fear.

We went to an exotic wildlife park today and, though we saw many creatures, none made the same impression on me as did the Lion. The guide told us the lion was of the breed that was trained to kill gladiators in the ancient Roman Empire.

Standing there, looking eye to eye the king of beasts, I was in awe of the majesty this creature projected. When it began to growl and suddenly lunged forward at the fence, my heart seemed to stand still.

Its no wonder to me that the Bible likens Christ to a Lion. It states that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Lord. I now have a better understanding of how I will probably feel on that day.

Creatures in my Home

Cooler weather brings creatures into my home. And I'm not just talking about my wife's golden retriever, which, as I was informed today, will also be brought into my home by cooler weather...

I managed to capture this house spider and photograph it both before and after its demise. The majority of the Spiders we've killed in our home, have been this variety, (to the best of my knowledge, small wolf spiders) but recently I found and killed a Brown Recluse in our bathroom.

Spiders in general are bad enough, but I can deal with Wolf Spiders as they are mostly harmless. But with the advent of the Brown Recluse Discovery, as its come to be known, I think its time to exterminate...

Flowers of Arcadia

My wife and I recently went to Arcadia Lake in Edmond, OK, along with my brother and his girlfriend, my younger brother, and my mom & dad to have a cookout.

During a nature hike, mom was impressed with the wide array of wild flowers that are in full bloom, and insisted that I photograph each and every last one.


Here is a giant sunflower we saw growing along the
walking trail.


I've never seen a dragon fly so up close and personal
before...