#100happydays no this is not an art museum

 Apature 2 or the Klingon Cresh? 1 of 2

 Santa Fe, or a scene from DOCTOR WHO?

 Art or an alien life form? 1 of 3

a

 Are those my feet I see before me?

No this was not taken at an art museum.  This is a waiting area in the University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Research facility in Aurora Colorado.  Amazing art isn't it?

A German Restaurant in Aurora

Where I live in Aurora, Colorado you mainly have Mexican Restaurants with a few other places like McDonalds and Panera Breae d Company.

Finding any other ethnic restaurants is a rarity and is something you have to check out because it is so rare.

Near where my Physical Therapy center is located is a little German Restaurant called Helgas'.  I have not yet had the opportunity to go to this place, I hope to soon.  

Til then, here are some pictures of the outside of this little restaurant.

A Unique place to eat in Colorado

What follows are photos of perhaps one of the most unique places to eat in Colorado.  The location is at the cafe at The University of Colorado Medical Center.

I kid you not, the food was amazing and the setting is very unique in its appearance and over all feel.  If you want something different and fun then stop in.  Prices are reasonable and you will have something definitely to talk about after words.

 Veggi Lasagnia, it was delicious

 Dining area

 Really cool lights

 The windows in the wall

 Art on the wall  taken by my wife

Art

What is The Statue of Liberty? A great book by Joan Holub

Most of us think of The Statue of Liberty as the Greenish Blue statue that is out on Ellis Island off of New York.

Well it is a patina of Greenish Blue, since it was made of copper this is the patina it has, but it is not on Ellis Island, it is on Liberty Island.

This is just a small sample of the material that is contained in this compact book.

The book is written for children as a way of teaching them about ThUSe Statue of Liberty. however it is written in such a way, that people of any age can appreciate the book and the information contained with-in.

The book written by Joan Holub and is illustrated by John Hinderliter.

Mr. Hinderliters' illustrations add to the text and give a sense of completeness in the presentation of materials.

You will discover how the United States nearly lost this gift from France and what part Gustave Eiffel had in the building of the statue, and how Bedlows Island was chosen and why the Statue was put on an Island.

There is so much information and this book is such a pleasure to read, that you will find yourself reading it again just to bone up on all the cool trivia you will find here-in.

What is The Statue of Liberty is 5 stars and a great book for people of all ages.  You will enjoy this book.

Air Raid Pearl Harbor an impressive book

Today, June 30th, I finished another book.  This one was a young adult book titled Air Raid Pear Harbor, the Story of December 7th 1941.

The book is by Theodore Taylor who was involved in the production of the motion picture of "Tora Tora Tora"  which was released in 1970.  Taylor in part took the movie script and condensed much of it into this book, but added his own elements to the book.

One thing he did through out the book, was keep it balanced in how he presented the information on both the American and Japanese point of view.  In the book Taylor manages to present the diverse views between Tojo, the military ruler of Japan, who had more power than the emperor and Admiral Yamamoto who commanded the combined fleet for the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Yamamoto was opposed to the attack, and stated that this would be a disaster for Japan, because the United States would rise for the ashes and eventually defeat Japan.

Taylor also in a section at the end of the book titled The Heroes and The Scapegoats, allows both Admiral Husband E Kimmel and General Short to speak and express in their own words, taken from transcripts from the investigation in 1946.  Kimmel does not mince words and expresses in blatant terms how he felt he was hung out to dry to cover for errors by other officers and leaders who were even more to blame for the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Air Raid Pearl Harbor, is a tightly written book that gives a fresh look at the events of this day and is a book that you will find fascinating whether you are 17 or 70.

#100happydays A Memorial Record Album to a Beloved President

The other day, Tuesday July 22nd I was at my favorite thrift store here in Aurora, Colorado and I discovered perhaps the most unique record I have found so far.

This is not a popular music album, it has no music at all.  As a matter of fact it is 100% dialogue.

What is this unique record album, that in six days sold 4 million copies?

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, A Memorial Album.  That's right a record produced with-in 24 hours of President Kennedy's death.

A radio station in New York WMCA.  The album is narrated by Ed Brown, who expertly sets up excerpts and in a few occasions complete speeches given by President Kennedy.

The speeches resonate clearly and with the depth and passion that Kennedy had in life, it is as if the President were sitting in the room with you.  There is no distortion, no hisses or pops or crackles.  If you did not know this was produced in 1963, you would feel it was a digitally remastered recording.

The record was cut together on the day of the assassination, November 22nd 1963 using Kennedy's speeches from his inauguration, to his speech on civil rights.

What is amazing is that a large portion of the proceeds from this album went to the Joseph P Kennedy Foundation for research into Mental Retardation.

The cost of the album was .99 cents and the one I purchased was marked Special .19 cents.

For me this is one of the most significant albums I own, and listening to it reminds me how much a different world it is today, considering that when this album was made, African Americans could not go to the same movie theaters as Whites, could not go to the same restaurants or stay in the same hotels.  

If you can find this album it is a time capsul and well worth adding to your collection.

What other amazing things will I discover at Safari thrift?  Follow my blog and find out, and let me know what you think.  

Til next time. 

Collison Book two in the Battle for Darracia series by Michael Phillip Cash

"Get ready it's going to be a bumpy ride."

And so is this second book in Michael Phillip Cash's series the Battle for Darracia.

Collision picks up with everyone scattered.

There is a sense of incompleteness, for  V'sair the young king od Darracia is separated from his love Tulani, who is trying to prover her skills as a high priestess and is failing.

V'sairs' brother Zayden has gone on a lone crusade to kill the man  whose son killed his betrothed and is blinded by this anger.

And then Staf Nuen the man who wanted to taje Darracia by force, Staff Nuen who is building a dangerous alliance with a man who claims to have a Goddess who is unbeatable and will ensure that Nuen gains what he desires, but at what price.

This is just the set up for a fast paced book with many twists and turns and a few surprises including what happens to Zayden in the final chapter.

You will be holding your breath throughout this book, for Collision does what so many middle books, movies in trilogies do so well.  Set up the final act and build then tension and establish the relationships of the characters and define them in depth.

You will not put this book down, until you are done reading it, and even then you will be tempted to read it again to be sure you did not miss anything, because so much happens at breakneck speed.

Michael Phillip Cash has done it again with Collision and I am waiting with baited breath for the final installment Risen
to see how this story ends.  

5 STARS

#100happydays Tracks in the sand

While waiting for my bus the other day I saw these heavy tracks in the sand near the bus stop.  I had to photograph them, because they seemed so much deeper than usual.

This is a test run!

I have had some issues getting things to automatically  post to my Facebook and Twitter. I am posting this to see if it will work properly.

THIS IS ONLY A TEST!

If everything works out correctly, I will be back to my regular scheduled blogs.

A Study of a tree for use in diorama making

While waiting for my bus a few days ago I took these photos of a tree.  

I build scale models and am starting to do dioramas more often.  

These close ups of this tree show all the detail and color range, so that when I do trees in my dioramas the colors will be correct and I can try and add details to the tree or be sure that the details are correct.

Enjoy

Notice how the color of the branches and trunk can change ,  ever so slightly from one photo to another.

Some is shadow, some is how the wood has peeled off at points. 

None the less, this gives some fine details and even from a natural point of view the photos are beautiful.

#100happydays Here comes the sun

Woke up to this magnificent sunrise just a few minutes ago.

 

 This is what got me to notice the sunrise, the sunlight reflected on the living room wall.

Nature outside the Fitzsimmons Apartment complex June 24th 2014

About half a block up from where I live is another dual apartment complex, it is the Fitzsimmons Apartment complex or simply known as the Fittz,

Outside the entryway of these building are some flowers and trees.  I have always loved these displays of nature and on June 24th of this year I took these photos.  

I hope you enjoy them.

#100happydays Sunset Friday July 18th 2014

While walking home last night from my bus stop, I saw this sunset and took these pictures.

#100happydays Reflections Thursday July 17th 2014

Two days ago, while waiting for a bus I captured these photos of reflections in rain,  This is where there is a pothole that has collected rain water and is quite beautiful.  This was taken at East Colfax Ave at Peoria Street.

Part of the University of Colorado Hospital on Quentin and 17th

Walkabout, Colorado State Veterans Center at Fitzsimmons

Almost a month ago, on June 24th 2014 I took a walkabout at the Colorado State Veterans Center, located one block over and two blocks up from where I live.  

The facility is beautiful, not just architecturally but by the inclusion of a park way that just adds to the peacefullness of the facility,

Enjoy

 In these last photos, we see one of the people who live at the center, taking a walk at the park and taking in the view.  All photos were taken with my Cannon digital camera June 24th 2014.