Welcome to Chaos !!

Last year while strolling through the Miracle Mile Shops at Plannet Hollywood in Las Vegas I came across this paper figure of President Trump and this podium.



I thought that was GREAT and put on a one woman comedy show for a few minutes to my own amusement and also the person working there (he did laugh and said I was very funny, I KNOW I am- Thank You). I have been told I should do comedy more than once.
Anyhow....I wanted another pic last week so I went back. No President Trump is sight! What? After asking for the whereabouts of the President I found out that Potus and Flotus where hiding in the back because random people walking by could not deal with their anger after seeing a paper figure of President Trump. Ummmmm what? Up your meds people, up your meds.
So this is Vegas after all where probably one third (at least) of the people strolling by are high on something or have some liquor in them. Perhaps they got that liquor courage in them, that is why they opened their mouths in the first place.
I am one of those weirdos that don't need liquor to loudly speak my mind.
So I took a pic with just me on the podium this time. Actually even better! Folks....(you reading this) meet your new President. ME.
Trump has decided to go on Christmas break.....until further notice. Melania and little Barron want him all to themselves for a while. No more late night tweets to entertain and horrify the masses and I need to go over and probably restore the list of words and phrases banned to be used by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Last time I checked I was in United States of America, not North Korea so let's keep it that way, shall we? Yes Trump is a bit tired, it's been a hectic year. He is only human after all and needs some time off.
Plus Omarosa quit (or did she get fired like when she was on the Apprentice?) and with her gone there is an urgent NEED for another strong, opinionated woman in the White House. And I can speak a few more languages besides English, so when I meet and schmooze with other leaders of the world I will be able to carry on just fine. I can even curse in Arabic! Plus I can say I love you honey in Arabic as well. And I know the word for money. Perfect!
I especially can't wait to meet Putin! Love connection perhaps? ❤
Don't worry people of the world. I will Make America Great Again.....all I am asking for are two lattes a day and a daily massage. Chhaya wants free roam of the White House lawn, she will make a great First Pet since she is an American pit bull terrier after all. I am packing my IKEA duffel bags and boarding Air Force One heading for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington D.C. any day now.

Well me and Chhaya are back in Central Oregon.....and no snow yet! Will there be snow here this year?



It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas out there, snow or no snow. Have you sent off your letter to Santa yet? As always I think it is much more fun to give gifts than to receive but if I would wish for something it would be a really good quality massage chair by MB, Panasonic or Fujimi and an espresso machine by Breville. Then I never have to leave the house, except when walking Chhaya.
I would just lay in my massage chair, sipping on a latte fully enjoying myself.







And my fave perfume too....Petite Chérie by Annick Goutal. I love this perfume!

December 13....a day of tradition in Sweden. Today we celebrate Lucia and sing Lucia songs and Christmas carols. Lucia has a crown of candles on her head, usually live candles but when younger children participate we often use fake candles.
This is a beautiful tradition and is also celebrated in other countries.
In 6th grade I was Lucia and I was very happy about that. Here I am with my old class mates (klasskamrater) singing....
I was 11 years old (young) in 6th grade, always the youngest since my birthday is so late in the year.





There is a blogger in Sweden - Jonna Jinton....she lives in northern Sweden in a small place called Grundtjärn. Actually the area reminds me a lot about Alaska, especially Kenai where I lived for five years. Jonna has made an amazing Lucia video, LUCIA 2017 - The night of light, that I think it is well worth watching, catches the feeling and spirit about Lucia perfectly.
Click here to watch it.

Natten går tunga fjät, runt gård och stuva.
Kring jord som sol’n förlät, skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Natten var stor och stum. Nu, hör, det svingar
i alla tysta rum, sus som av vingar.
Se, på vår tröskel står, vitklädd med ljus i hår,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Mörkret skall flykta snart, ur jordens dalar.
Så hon ett underbart ord till oss talar.
Dagen skall åter ny, stiga ur rosig sky,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

And another Lucia song....

Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring,
sprid i vår vinternatt glans av din fägring.
Drömmar med vingesus under oss sia,
tänd dina vita ljus, Sankta Lucia.

Kom i din vita skrud, huld med din maning.
Skänk oss, du julens brud, julfröjders aning.
Drömmar med vingesus, under oss sia,
tänd dina vita ljus, Sankta Lucia.

Trollsejd och mörkermakt ljust du betvingar,
signade lågors vakt skydd åt oss bringar.
Drömmar med vingesus, under oss sia,
tänd dina vita ljus, Sankta Lucia.

Stjärnor som leda oss, vägen att finna,
bli dina klara bloss, fagra prästinna.
Drömmar med vingesus, under oss sia,
tänd dina vita ljus, Sankta Lucia.

Cindy and I went to Chloride the other day, an old mining town founded in 1862 located in Arizona. Not too far from Vegas, about an 80 mile drive. Chloride is a very interesting place, I can definitely see the charm of living there. Isolated but still not too far removed from a larger city like Vegas or Kingman. Plenty of retired people in Chloride. And lots of characters.



Cindy told me about some murals. Just WOW.....painted by Roy Purcell in 1966. He named this work of art "The Journey".
He wrote, "The Journey images from an inward search for self".





Many snakes depicted in the murals. Supposedly there are a lot of snakes in Chloride too. Didn't see any.









The number one supermodel in the world - Chhaya.



Cindy taking pictures.









We talked to some locals. Met a nice lady named Natalie that is part of The Spoiled Doves and also running Yesterdays Restaurant. If you want to spend the night in Chloride you can do so at Shep's Miners Inn. We grabbed a bite to eat at The Prospector, pretty good food at very reasonable prices. Heard that Chloride puts on a great St. Patrick's Day celebration. I was actually quite impressed by this town!
Had a great day with Cindy.

Yesterday while enjoying Sunrise Coffee's delicious latte I looked through some pics of today's photoshoot destination.



The alarm rang at 7 am this morning, it took me about 20 minutes to get out of bed. How is the hair? I used a shampoo and conditioner last night that I have never tried before, Emily gave me a sample starter pack to try. Both her and Stacy love it, it's called Monat. Have you ever tried it before?



I picked up Cindy at 9 30 we stopped at Whole Foods and each got a latte, then we drove about 80 miles to our destination.....somewhere. We had a great time, very interesting place.
I loved it. This is towards the end, it was a bit windy and cold but so worth going. Where did we go? Find out tomorrow....I am going to bed now.

I have a shoot tomorrow with Cindy. The plan is to go and explore an old abandoned mining town in Arizona and hopefully get some good images. I have not been to this location before so I am looking forward to it. A full day of fun.
Here are some pics of me from previous shoots.....



Photographer Barry Gallegos



Photographer Shutterbug Studio



Photographer Danny McCarty