When Brent and I had our date day on Sunday, we hit the Naples pier and did some sight seeing. Any boy were there some sights. I love Naples but I love the beach in Bonita much more. Sunday just confirmed that. Ha ha! Bonita Beach has pristine beach areas with very clean views. Naples has very upscale homes and exquisite shopping but boy does their beach get a tad bit, well ummmm...let's just use the word "crazy." Especially by the pier. Ha ha! We'll just leave it at that.
While enjoying our time there, I snapped some of these shots. I apologize for any individuals that ended up in my pictures with just a bathing suit on. Word of advice to the ladies, unless you are laying down in the sand or at a pool catching some rays, put a cover up on when you get up to walk around. Especially when walking down a pier. I've never understood the reasoning behind why girls and women walk the streets or similar areas near beaches & pools half dressed. (i.e., no top over their bathing suit on their chest, no bottoms over their bottoms, etc.) God invented designers of cover ups so that we'd wear them. Don't walk around with your chest hanging out and then question why guys are such dogs when it comes to them staring at you with their tongues hanging out. Poor guys, as women half dressed, we leave the guys nothing else left to look at. How can they help from staring when that is all there is in their sight? I'm a female and couldn't look any which way without seemingly landing on some women's chest because they were just e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e! Brent and I got such a kick out of the sights and the total disregard for lack of clothes. There were so many young teenage girls getting pawed over and it was incredibly sad. I also saw so many women my age or older though who were apparently getting a kick out of the pawing. They too were half dressed. Wear those cover ups, sarongs with a cute tee, etc., when you are up walking around sista's! There is nothing attractive, classy, or lady like about walking down the street or a crowded pier in a bathing suit with nothing covering you. In my opinion, we are somebodies daughter. Therefore, we should act like it. Wouldn't we want that for our own daughters? Just my two cents!
I had to step around all of the individuals hanging out underneath this pier in order to get this shot above. Again I say just a wee bit "crazy."
The clouds were my "besties" on this day. They were amazing. Love what some cool clouds and a wide angle lens can do for an image. Good stuff! Makes my heart skip a beat. A few beats actually.
If you look really closely in the shot above, you can see a dolphin swimming along in the water. He is right above the G and the R in the word photography. He was just as fun as he could be.
This is a shot of the pier that I stood back and waited FOREVAH to get so that I could shoot around all the half dressed women coming at me head on with their ta ta's hanging out. I'll say it again...cover ups ladies, cover ups. They are a GOOD thang'! No one wants your boobies in their vacation pictures. Wink wink! ;)
So there you have it, the Naples pier - minus the ta ta's. HA! I should have just used a mega-phone and stopped everyone by going..."Everybody listen up...I'm trying to take some pictures here but I can't because of your lack of clothing. I've got a blog to run and cannot post pictures of your hooters on my blog because I have sweet, sweet, young girls as some of my readers and they don't deserve to see all that - all of you. This is a PG rated blog - not triple XXX. Everybody get some clothes on - PRONTO - so that I can snap some shots without feeling like I'm snapping pictures of your boobs or your heiney being so prevalently revealed. Understood? Oh...and stop walking so slow or deliberately stopping in front of my camera lens as if you WANT me to get a shot of your hooters. If you are in need of attention, I'm not the one to give it to you. Neither is BIG PAPA (a.k.a. my camera)!!!
It's a done deal. Next time we head to the Naples pier, I'm packing a megaphone. :O) Happy Tuesday friends! xoxoxo, Angie
Brent has found a new honey. Someone that makes his heart swoon and his palms sweat. He's found someone that makes his heart race and his feet go numb. He's found his love. He found "Lola." Let me introduce you to her...
Yeap, this yellow and oh so stunning vehicle is his new love. It's an Aston Martin. For those of you who haven't frequented our blog for very long, you won't understand the joke to this car lot. See, Brent and I peruse this lot together each time we are in town. Sometimes it's a late night jaunt down there on a warm Florida night, other times it's during the day such as the trip with camera lights blaring. Last May, this same lot helped me make my decision on my new car. It all started there. This year, Brent is in store for a new vehicle soon. He's trying to decide whether to go for an SUV again or a car this time. Needless to say, when he saw "Lola," I think his little heart had made a decision. At a $280,000 sticker price though, I think his wallet begged to differ. Ha ha!
One of the other reasons why I love Bonita Springs and Naples is for this reason right here. I love to see the amount of "rare" (or rare considering we don't see this stuff rolling around Indy much) cars that line the streets here like candy. Eye candy! I'm not a big car girl but I can appreciate a nice ride. And these vehicles are nothing short of a nice ride. The car key alone for this Aston Martin is $2000. Yes, you read that right...$2,000.00. The key is laced in sapphires and is truly just there as a "hey, let me show you my key" kind of detail. Most people spending this much money on a vehicle have more dollars then cents. And in Bonita, that equals out to be just about every 35-60 year old man at each intersection. Brent just recently turned 35. Enough said. :o)
I do have to say...he does wear it well...Wouldn't you agree? I was holding on for dear life down in a ditch while trying to get this shot of him below. As I was whining about how to do it, Brent says to me..."Do your job...this is what photographers do!" HA!
And oh yeah...I was down on the ground in a skirt mind you - getting these shots. Thank goodness the dealership was closed. I didn't care about all of the other hundreds of cars passing by on U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail behind me. Ha ha! They were all going just fast enough that it didn't matter. Never saw a thing. They might have suspected that they did, but I assure you that they didn't. HA!
There is that handsome stud of mine. Like his new shades? Those were a Father's Day gift from the kids and I for him. He wears those well too. Yeah, yeah, yeah...Mama is trying to rub her sun glass fetish off on Daddy now too. Big deal! Guys need a few really good pair of shades just like we girls do. :o)
Beings that we frequent this dealership a ton...this day was no different. However it was a blast this time because I had my camera with me again and could snap Brent in action.
Action, "what action" you ask? Well, take this moment for example...
He tried telling me that he thought that this silver Bentley "might make a good family car." Note...it is only two doors. Ha ha!
Then...how about the persuasion that came with this one below...???? This Ferrari. "Look Ang...you can see the engine via glass on the back of the trunk lid. Now that is cool, right?" Oh yes, very cool babe! Very, very, cool!
Brent: "Oh but what about this one (shown above and below) babe...?? It has 4 doors - it would DEFINITELY make a good family car."
ME: "Oh really, what is the cost on this one b-a-b-e?"
Brent: "Here is the sticker. Let's just get a picture of it why don't we? Ha ha!"
ME: "Why? What does it say? It can't be any worse then $280,000 for the Aston Martin. (a.k.a - Lola)
ME: "WHHAAATTTT? That is the price of someones house rolling down the road!" What in the world? $440,050.00 - That is just pure craziness my friends. Pure craziness. Someone is smoking some heavy wacky weed if they are buying a $440,050.00 vehicle. And don't you just love the and 050.00? Like yeah, $440,000 and $50 dollars. What is the $50 for? Why bother? Let's just round it up to a mere $441,000.00 shall we?
At the end of the day, we got in some good laughs. Brent and I spent the day out shooting - well I was shooting - he was my get-a-way driver. We had lunch and walked the Naples pier together. All the while I was snapping shots with my camera. I'll be sharing more of those shots tomorrow. It was a beautiful "date day" and I'm so thankful that my in laws offered to stay behind with the kids so that we could go enjoy ourselves for the afternoon. We hit the marina's, tin city, some residential areas, stopped to snap some old cars on top of the new ones you see above, and so forth. It was great fun! Brent has really taken an interest in the photography world with me and it's a ton of fun to have him there by my side while doing what I love to do. I'll leave you with some more random shots surrounding the cars before I sign off. First up, Mamasita's choice...ummm...yes me. The Maserati. With a smidge of tinted windows on this car and some different wheels, we'd be stylin'! :) Enjoy...
And some other Bentley colors...
Good times~good times! Thanks for an incredibly awesome date day babe! I had a blast! Love you, Ang
For now I am off to plug in and take a new photography class online for two hours today. It starts at 12:30pm and runs thru 2:30pm. It's my first ever online and live class. (I'm taking the course - not teaching it this time) I've got headphones and a mic all ready to go. Should be interesting beings that I have never participated in this type set up before. Wish me luck. Especially considering the other classmates in regards to the two crazy kids I have roaming in the background. Thank God for mute buttons, eh? Ha ha! Enjoy your Monday. Talk tomorrow...Ang
Just wanted to take a sec to pop on here and say thanks for all of my birthday wishes yesterday. The emails and facebook messages just continued to pour in and still are even this morning. I am so blessed by all of your friendships. It really made my day to receive all of your notes and blessings yesterday. I was able to spend my birthday in my favorite place again this year - near the sea. And for that...I am so thankful. It was a beautiful day and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
We spent the day driving into Naples and doing some fun shopping. Then, we hit Dillard's and perused their store as well. After that, I was taken back home and surprised with a cake by my in laws as well as Brent and the kids. Brennen had picked the cake out and I just loved the design. It was a cake done with icing in the shape of starfish, shells, etc. Brennen was so excited for me to see it. He said it would fit me perfectly and it did. We devoured the cake and the ice cream and then went back out the door for more shopping. Brent, myself, and my father in law, Ron, went out and about shopping again only to discover that the store we were after was closed for the evening. Deb stayed behind with the kiddo's (thanks Debbie!). We eventually hit Barnes and Noble on our way home and I finished off my birthday just perfectly....by walking out of the store with a stack of new photography and beach books in hand. Ha ha! Brent and I had a ball meandering thru the bookstore and it was just the perfect end to a perfect day.
And now...Brent and I are headed out the door for a bit of "shooting." Yes, he is going to be my handsome get-a-way driver as I hop in and out of the vehicle finding things to "shoot" (with my camera of course) all throughout downtown Naples, Tin City, the marina's, the pier, etc. He has been offering to do this for me for a while now and we are finally going to spend the day doing it. I can't wait to see what kind of shots of different architecture and such we come up with. This is going to be "my kind of day." After that, it's back to the pool/beach for a bit of Florida sun and R&R. Life is grand! Now if I could just get Brent off the subject of moving here full time, we'd be good. HA! I'm sure this photography shoot has a hidden agenda in his eyes. If he had his way, this shoot would be his plan to get out and about driving around town - scoping out the perfect area to live. He even went so far as to tell his Mom and step-Dad (as we passed the Naples Hospital yesterday) that "it was the place where our 3rd child was going to be born." We all busted out laughing and just cracked up. Gotta' love that guy!
Enjoy your Sunday. Hugs, Angie
PS...Crystal got my new blog design up yesterday. If you'd like to see it, you can click HERE. The new photography website will be through showit sites and it hasn't gone live just yet but it's getting really close. Once it does go live, I'll be sure to share it here with all of you. Crystal has done an amazing job and I'm so excited to launch the brand new site. I'm still trying to get all of my images pulled together for the gallery and therefore that will probably take another week or two. Again, we are close. Stay tuned!
Just wanted to get on here and post a couple of sneak peek shots real quick for ya. These are two new AGD designs that are being introduced as part of the Fall o9' collection. I hope to get the full sets photographed and ready for production in the next week or so. Once I do, I'll post the new images of them here as usual. It's been a while since I've last designed anything new. Therefore, I know you ladies are itchin' for some new goods. The Fall collection is sure to be a hit. Very hippy - very vintage - very 70's - very "let's throw down the peace sign" kinda' look. Ha ha! Just my kind of style. LOVE it!
I also just wanted to torture you all a bit with the "only get to see a square patch of the whole outfit" kinda' photo because I know how much you all just L-O-V-E the sneak peek shots, right? Ha ha! Can you tell it's my birthday today and I'm just being as ornery as all get out? Oh you know it! Yes, I'm celebrating the big 3-4 today. This year is a bit depressing given all of the recent medical issues - it just confirms that life is progressing and I'm aging. (even though my Dad did call this morning and reminded me that my heart problems have nothing to do with my aging) Ha ha! Thanks Dad! I can always count on you for a pep talk!
So for now...we are headed out the door to downtown Naples. We are hitting 5th avenue South for a bit of lunch outside today and maybe a big, fat, chocolate souffle ala mode' to top off the celebration. Then, its a wee bit of "birfday" shopping to help smother the depression of turning the big 3-4. I got my incredibly awesome birthday gift a month early from Brent and the kids this year so not a ton of shopping today. Just enough to call it a "gift to myself" kinda' day. Ya know? My parents gave me their gift last month as well before I ever left for Florida. Mom gave me her gifts when she was here with us a couple of weeks ago. And my mother and father in law gave me their birthday gift on Thursday as soon as they arrived. I'll be posting photos of that one soon. They got me the most kickin' handbag EVAH! I love it! You ladies must see it in case you want to go get one for yourselves. All of you animal print lovers will definitely go into convulsions over it. Such a cool bag! Thanks Deb & Ron!
In the meantime, enjoy your weekend and get outside. Summer is here my friends. This is the time of our lives. It's what we waited all winter long for. xoxoxo, Angie (a.k.a. The "birfday" girl!)
PS...Thank you so much to all of you who are pouring in the birthday wishes to me on facebook today. My cell is dinging like crazy as each one of you leave your birthday messages today. It sure does make this 34 year old girl feel good! :)
Here are some more photos from that 2nd Everglades airboat ride the other day. We took my Dad and Cath back so that they could experience what we kept telling them about. It was a hoot! We requested the same captain again so it was nice that we got the same one. Meet Captain Ken, Brent, Brennen, and my Dad. WHEW! That Florida sun was sooooo bright for being so early in the morning.
And below...you have crazy haired Kenidi with my Step-Mom Cathy (I call her Cath) and the B-Ster! (a.k.a. Brennen) I'm unsure why Kenidi's hair looks like she stuck her finger in a light socket here. This was before the ride - not after.
I snapped this shot below of another fellow boat passing by with some people we didn't know on it. I'm not lying when I say that these boats go pretty dang fast. They do all kinds of donuts and spins, turns, etc. You feel like you are on a roller coaster ride at certain points. Way fun! Just imagine what it might feel like for a boat to be on "ice." For those of you who aren't Midwesterners, you might not know what driving on ice feels like. Well, either way - that is what you feel like - like the boat is scooting across ice. It's really crazy.
And here was our captain again (Capt. Ken), feeding the alligators. We saw three of this particular trip.
CHOMP...CHOMP!!!
At the end of the ride, we got to head into a gift shop where they let Brennen hold a live alligator. He got a good kick out of that! They said this one was approximately two years old. He seemed awful small to me for 2 years old. Anywho...
Check out Brennen's hair (by the way) in the shot above. It is all wind blown from the boat and standing straight up on end. Halarious!
And here you have a blue crab. The captain catches these and fries those bad boys up. He showed us their teeth which are technically hidden and all of thier crazy parts and details. Did you know that you can tell a boy crab from a girl crab in similar ways to that of how we tell human boys and girls? Yeap, pretty crazy eh? Quite the visual...I know!
It was another great boat trip to say the least. We are now buckled down on this Friday morning and watching old Michael Jackson video's play out in marathon form on MTV. I think it's the first time I've seen video's on MTV in like 15 years. Maybe they should take the hint and go back to video's instead of all those stupid reality tv shows that they play back to back and non-stop now. UGH! Anywho, as strange as Michael was in the last 15 years, you can't take away the talent that the man had. As I watch these old video's and songs, I am propelled back to my childhood 10 fold. What incredible memories Michael helped make in many of our lives. And no matter what anyone says, he is one of the few artists that when his music came on somewhere in public, EVERYONE began to move. You just couldn't help it. And if you were a child of the 80's, you REALLY couldn't help it. 50 years old is really young. It's very, very sad! Do I think Michael had problems? Yes. Many! Do I think that he was a strange dude? Yes, very much so. But the Michael we all knew back in the 80's is the one I'm choosing to remember today as they begin celebrating his life. And the funny thing is, my son is now sitting here in front of the tv mesmerized by his video's and his songs even though he barely knows anything about him. Again, you just can't help but be sucked in by his amazing talents. My CG girls and I have a thing for the song "PYT." Just last year during our girls lake trip, we partied it up Michael Jackson style with his songs on the boat. I have several photos of a few of my girlfriends dancing it up "Thrilla" style to his old song Thriller. Good times~Good times! He will be missed!
xoxo, Angie
PS...My favorite Michael Jackson video of all time...??? That would be the song "The way you make me feel." Yeap, if you go back to you tube or somewhere and watch that old video, you'll remember how much it ROCKED! And my favorite song of MJ's...that would be "Man in the mirror." Best ever! What was your favorite MJ song or video?
Because I had so many pelican shots after our 2nd airboat ride with my parents last weekend, I thought I'd make a post just for the pelicans themselves. I took my 18-55mm lens with me on the 2nd trip beings that I knew I'd get some up close and personal opportunities again. With that lens, I was able to get much closer to the animals and the gators. Gator shots to come. For now, the pelicans reign. :)
These birds crack me up. They are so ugly that they are cute! I love how they LOVE my camera. They are always poking around at the very end of my lens like "hey...what's that?" Hysterical stuff. They are a bit intimidating at first because they get so close to your face. You almost feel as though they are ready to peck your nose off or something. Lord knows I could stand to loose a few inches off my nose but I think I'd rather not have it be taken off in that fashion. In the end though, these birds just want to hang out. Oh yeah...and they want some food too.
Our boat captain taught us some things about these guys on the 2nd trip around. I learned that the lighter their eyes are, the older the pelican is. He said that as they age, their eyes lighten up. The darker they are, the younger they are. And as they age, they begin to go blind from hitting the water so hard as they dive face first for fish into the ocean. He said that once they begin to loose sight, most times mother nature (a.k.a. - the alligator's) keep them from having to suffer long. Basically the food chain takes over and as they go blind and start goofing up and making mistakes, the gators eventually get them. So sad!
The captain also said that a pelican usually lives around 14 years or so. Doesn't seem like very long, does it?
My favorite part about them is how they are so trusting of people as well as how they soar and hover in the air. We were on our way back from Captiva Island tonight and as we cut thru Sanibel, there were tons of pelicans flying low above our car on the bridge. They are so graceful in how they are able to hover over one area. They also fly right along side your vehicle as you are going over the bridge - almost like they are in a race to keep up with you and your car windows. It's really neat to watch.
The hook like thing at the end of their beak and their wing span alone is a force to be reckoned with. They really are such amazing birds.
So there you have it. An educational bit of background on the pelicans in Southwest Florida. There will be a quiz on all of this tomorrow. Take notes! :) Just kidding.
Well, we are winding down for the night. It's 9:50pm and we are just coming in from a grand dinner at the Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva Island. Love that place! I have dreams about their bubble cheese bread. Oh yes I do. Dreams, lots of them! For a perk, we brought home their chocolate fudge cake for dessert. I haven't eaten it yet but you better bet your bottom dollar I will. Maybe for a midnight snack or breakfast in the morning. Uh huh...I said breakfast. Come on...you know you are all guilty of chocolate consumption for breakfast from time to time. Don't act all innocent and whollier than thou regarding that topic. I know better my sista's!
My parents fly back to Indy in the morning so we are fixing to miss them. It's been great having them here over the past week. They fly back down at the end of July again too so we are looking forward to having them back here then as well. Brent's Mom and Ron fly in on Thursday so we are gearing up for Grandma Debbie and Papa Ron's arrival now. So fun! It's great that our friends and family come in and out to keep us company all summer long. We'd really get bored without them. Really, we would.
For now, I'm signing off. I'll be back tomorrow night with more pictures. Maybe I'll share the gator shots from trip #2 to the Everglades...
