HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!!

Just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year!!! Thanks for coming to visit me on my blog "Picture This!!!" I hope you've enjoyed my travels, photos, and comments throughout the year. I look forward to bringing you another year of pictures shot through my cameras eye as I venture around our beautiful earth!!! My best to you and your loved ones!!!!

SAN DIEGO SUNSET

The other day when we were departing San Diego (SAN), and heading to Newark (EWR), we observed one of the most stunning sunsets I've seen in a LONG time. It was absolutely incredible..........the pinks, oranges, yellows, reds,...... I told my first officer to disregard the controllers request to turn northeast and just stay on our westerly heading so we could enjoy the beauty of it all. (He turned anyways, just to irritate me....LOL) Sights like this make my job one of the best in the world. I'm often asked if our "view" is much better from the front. After looking at photos like this, what do you think?

SANDSTORM IN ST MAARTEN!!!

Here's a couple of "fun" shots I took in St Maarten. No one believes that airplanes fly so low over the beach, and "blast" everyone on the beach when departing. And no one believes that people are dumb enough to let the sand blast the daylights out of them either, but it's true, and here's the proof. It's always great fun to watch everyone do this.............just once. ;-) Photo 1: sunbathers getting their skin "exfoliated", and photo 2: the "exfoliater" (not a word, but sounds like one).

PIGEONS GOING GREEN

I took this shot on the beach a while back. I guess even pigeons are going green. Not quite sure what's going on with this guy, but he certainly caught my attention. I'm not sure if he was a pet and got dyed, or is just a "mutant" type of bird. Anyways, it's nice to see even birds are going "green" now. ;-)

BEACH UMBRELLAS ON CHRISTMAS

Decided to go to the beach today after talking to many of my friends on this wonderful Christmas day in Hollywood, FL. I guess I've been blessed with good health throughout the year............and many of my friends have not. At any rate, I wish everyone a very joyous and wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. I sincerely hope things turn around for my many friends and that good health is on its way to you. On another note, here's a shot I took at the beach today. I think the umbrellas made for a nice shot. Peaceful and calming.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Hey everyone.........sorry for not posting, but I've been on the road for the past few days. Flew to Miami, Columbus Ohio, and San Diego CA, over the weekend. I'll put up a few photos when I get back home on the 26th of December. So till then, I'd like to thank everyone who views my blog for "checking in" and keeping me on my toes! Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a very Happy New Year to you all, and I'll talk to you soon! karl

HOLLYWOOD BEACH OR SOUTH BEACH???

I'm often asked why I like to go to South Beach in Miami, instead of just hanging out here in Hollywood. One look at the attached photo and you'll have your answer. This is a photo of Hollywood Beach during our "over run" of snowbirds from Canada. (This is how the beach looks for almost three months straight! Sometimes I think I'm one of the only people who speaks English on the beach.............yep, it's that bad. Don't get me wrong, I love our Canadian neighbors, but when their isn't one square foot of unused beach for me to lay out, I get a bit defensive. Oh well, there's always SOUTH BEACH.

SIMON SAYS "TURN YOUR HEAD AROUND"

Here's a funny shot I took at South Beach a couple of days ago. When I saw all these skimmers with their heads turned around, I thought about the game "Simon Says", and this picture fit it so appropriately. These are such neat birds. They make a little chirp/honk combination when they are "talking". Kinda funny. Hope you like the shot. Simon says: TURN YOUR HEAD AROUND!!!!

SUNSET

I'm always amazed at some of the views I get from my office. Here's a picture of a sunset that occurred during an arrival into Newark (EWR), recently. The colors are astounding! I often wonder how something so far away can produce such phenomenal "eye candy"! And people wonder if I like my job..... ;-) Hope you like the shot.

SEA TURTLE

About a year ago when I was on an overnight in Cancun, (CUN), I had the opportunity to release a few baby sea turtles, courtesy of our hotel . It's a pretty neat experience to watch these little guys begin their journey through life with big waves crashing in on them. Unfortunately, not many will survive their first few days in the ocean, but just being a part of this was a humbling experience.

TRUE PHOTOS

I'm asked quite often if the photos of airplanes flying low over the beach in St. Maarten, (SXM), are "photo shopped" or fake. Folks, they are REAL shots. I believe that SXM is one of the few airports in the world where photos like the one I've attached, can be taken. It's a thrill to have a 600,000 pound airplane fly only 20 feet above your head! Is it loud? No, not really, since most of the engines are at idle thrust. It does make eerie wispy sounds as the vortices descend to the ground around you though. If you're looking for an awesome airplane "adventure", I highly recommend SXM. You'll LOVE IT!!!

THE SKIMMERS ARE BAAAAACK!!!!

Here's a shot of one of my favorite beach birds........the skimmer. Notice the long lower beak. These guys skim the top of the water with their lower beaks and catch fish. It's a pretty neat sight when you see them doing it. The make a funny little chirping noise when they're flying around too. They are quite a beautiful bird with their little orange markings on their beaks.

GAMES AT HOME

Sometimes I'm asked what I do with all my time off..............so I'll tell you what I do: I play games, do puzzles, and keep my mind busy with extraneous BS... LOL! Here's a shot of my "finish" of a computer game called Cradle of Rome. It's certainly an addicting game, and takes quite a while to finish. (Took me around two weeks to get it done). It gets pretty challenging around level 65 or so. The game "ends" around level 90, but if you get to level 100, you get this "reward" on your screen. Was nice to get that high!

BEAUTIFUL BEACH CONURES!

Today while walking the beach, I came across a gentleman enjoying a day at the beach with his two conures. They were absolutely gorgeous, and seemed to be enjoying their day at the beach.....except when an airplane or sea gull flew by and then they seemed a bit nervous.... ;-) A little boy with his mom and dad was just dying to pet those "cute" little birdies, but luckily decided against it. Good thing, since the owner said they were very protective of him and the little boy would've gotten tagged pretty good. Take it from someone who knows, these guys have beaks like razor blades, and they have no qualms about using them on someone. Have a great day everyone!

BEACH FASHION FAUX PAS

You see the strangest things at the beach. I saw this young lady parading around the beach the other day and wondered, how does one go out looking like this to a place where EVERYONE will see them? I guess they need to be seen, and boy everyone WAS looking......including me and my camera.... ;-)! Wool boots HAVE to be uncomfortable at the beach when it's 80 degrees, but when you're at the top of your game, something as trivial as heat doesn't matter. Fashion faux pas? Naw, just someone looking ridiculous for us to enjoy.

SITES AND SOUNDS OF MY DRIVE

Here's a couple of shots of my drive back from Houston. Crossing the Mississippi river, the Mississippi, and some REALLY long bridges in Louisiana. I'm guessing some of these bridges are at least 20 or so miles long......at least it kept the drive interesting. One thing I did notice was there was a TON of cops on the road and in Mississippi and Alabama they were located approximately every 10 miles along the interstate. Oh well, I guess they have to get their revenue somehow or another.

STILL standing there!!

I've been gone for over a week and when I went back to South Beach in Miami, this guy was STILL sitting there on the pole. Would someone PLEASE throw this guy some food? I'll update everyone on my travels tomorrow! Certainly is nice to be back home again.