If all goes according to plan, by the time this posts I’ll be in Denver (5th time since January!) making my connection to my final destination, Philadelphia. Other than the standard junior high trip to Washington DC, one night in Miami, and a 6 hour stint in the Newark airport last year, I’ve spent no time on the East Coast. I pretty much just do a fly over.

But thanks to the wonder that is the internet (I mean that wholeheartedly) and an abundance of airline points, my incentive to visit has shifted. The summer of 2011, I met Holly, now of Mortal Muses and From Where I Stand fame, through an online course. Photography, travel, cheers (as in adult beverages) and her empathy over losing my Grandmothers that summer were just a couple of our bonding points. Have I mentioned she lives in Philadelphia?

In a testament to social media, starting with Flickr, then Twitter, then progressing to Facebook, I became friends with Christian, a friend of Holly’s (also from Philadelphia, are you following here?). Christian’s got the travel, ahem, issue too (and photography and sports) which he chronicles over on Say Hello to America. In fact one of those adventures led him to Oregon last fall and that’s us in the pic above, documenting a chapter in the progression of a couple of online connections into to full-fledged friendships.

The next chapter begins tomorrow – I cannot wait! Five nights in Philly to take in history, sports, art – to eat, drink, watch, photograph, pause, and enjoy.

In early April, a couple of us ventured to Denver to visit another friend who had just relocated. We’d all had rather hectic days leading up to the weekend, so there wasn’t a lot of planning or expectation, just a common goal to catch up, check out the area and enjoy ourselves. As it turned out we didn’t spend a whole lot of time in Denver proper, but explored the surrounding areas. Saturday started with a walk around Washington park (above) followed by piling in the car with a vague idea of heading toward Breckenridge. Along the way we impulsively stopped to check out Buffalo Bill’s grave and its corresponding kitschy gift store (recommended).

A little further up the freeway, we noticed a frozen waterfall and once again spontaneously veered into the quaint little town of Idaho Springs for some photo snapping and some brew pub lunching.

Once in Breckenridge the spur-of-the-moment spirit continued with a gondola sighting and an emphatic, “I want to go on that!” which led to happening upon a ski slope concert that included a Mighty Mighty Bosstones performance. Further investigation into town and a recommendation from the locals led us to a tasting at the Breckenridge Distillery (which I now also endorse as a destination).

On Sunday, we spent some time strolling through Boulder, trying out the fairly new West Flanders Brewing Co. (my favorite of the breweries we visited), and stopping at Left Hand Brewing in Longmont.

I have a few more iPhone pics from this trip I hope to share when I return from my next adventure. Stay tuned!

I took this a couple of weeks ago with hopes of using it in a First Day of Spring post, but time slipped away. The day job required long days, March Madness kicked off and the amazing weather here in Portland was a much welcomed distraction. Regardless, it’s still spring and the blooms are still blooming, so the photo isn’t completely irrelevant.

In other news, I start a run of three trips in three months when I take off for Denver on Friday for an extended weekend. Barely four months into the year and I’m heading to a second never-been-to destination – I’m super excited! Hopefully I’ll return with photo fodder for a new Weekend Wanderings post!

I ordered this guy as part of a bigger concept for a St Patrick’s day greeting card for friends and family (because remember, I like to send things in the mail). Alas, he did not arrive on time to stage the photo shoot, create the cards and get them in the mail. The photo is going to have to suffice for this year! Sláinte!

Photo setup absolutely inspired by this lovely Portland photographer.

Upside down and underneath. And it looks like I made it through the month. More or less.

As I mentioned – I’m attempting a photo a day for February, following along with the prompts over on Fat Mum Slim. I’ll also be keeping them all nice and tidy in a Flickr set.

They were playing vinyl at the bottle shop last night.

As I mentioned – I’m attempting a photo a day for February, following along with the prompts over on Fat Mum Slim. I’ll also be keeping them all nice and tidy in a Flickr set.

Quiet, deserted. At any rate, a lot different than this fave from the 2012 August Break. And yes, I skipped yesterday. “On my bedside table?” Yeah, no.

As I mentioned – I’m attempting a photo a day for February, following along with the prompts over on Fat Mum Slim. I’ll also be keeping them all nice and tidy in a Flickr set.

It’s an iPhone only post to wrap up my New Orleans photos. I usually allow myself a little more fun with filters on the phone pics. I also didn’t feel much like pulling the big camera out during the torrential downpour we experienced the first night. For the full experience, be sure to see the cemetery, evil eye and French Quarter posts too.

In the ‘hood.

As I mentioned – I’m attempting a photo a day for February, following along with the prompts over on Fat Mum Slim. I’ll also be keeping them all nice and tidy in a Flickr set.

There are a few ways to consider this photo. First would be that a.) I cheated. I took this photo on the 22nd a few hours shy of the 23rd, before I even realized the prompt for the 23rd. Or, b.) we could think that was. Meant. To. Be. and let the timing slide.  Then there is c.) um, duh the prompt is singular and this contains the plural of ‘word.’ But also, there is d.) what the hell , no one ever, can hear enough “hello, beautiful” in their life. Never. Ever. So, yes, damn it, this is the photo for the day. Grazie mille!

As I mentioned – I’m attempting a photo a day for February, following along with the prompts over on Fat Mum Slim. I’ll also be keeping them all nice and tidy in a Flickr set.