http://smokeandmirrors.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Rick *Don Rico* J. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:11:42 GMT 2010-01-08T12:11:42Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977729901 After taking dozens of shots of the fireworks I decided it was time for something new. The girls wanted to go ride the Spider. But, it was getting a little dark to get any good shots. So, while the . . . Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:19:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977729901 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-07-12T16:19:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977724510 My daughter, Kristi, got her wedding photos back and she is less than happy! The good thing is there are several amateur photographers in the family and a couple that have photoshop skills. Hopefully, . . . Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:57:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977724510 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-06-29T16:57:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977707768 Two of my daughters approached me with a plan they had for a little "fun" on the night before the last day of school. It involved some "artwork" at their high school. They wanted to decorate the 9,000 . . . Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:56:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977707768 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-06-11T03:56:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977680028 I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. But, there she was intentionally trying to break the law. She did it when she was by herself. She did it when people were watching. . . . Tue, 12 May 2009 02:31:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977680028 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-05-12T02:31:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977658284 ...now what? I work for the State here in Oregon. When the Stimulus Bill was passed, we went into high gear to start planning additions to current highway construction projects to help stimulate the . . . Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:53:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977658284 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-04-17T02:53:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977649885 The answer is "Yes!" Pirates!, The Musical was a smashing success! Songs. Dance. Riveting dialog. Did I mention that my half-daughter was one of the two main characters and nailed . . . Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:03:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977649885 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-04-08T05:03:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977648683 For over 10 years I lived in an apartment 100 feet from the railroad tracks. 26 trains a day. Tonight I sat on the deck of my new apartment. I can hear the creek down the hill. The moon is lighting . . . Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:48:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977648683 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-04-07T03:48:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977644096 Okay. I'm back from my trip to Mexico! It was too short, but fun. Keep watching and I might post a few stories about the trip! Now, I'm off to post a photo or two... Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:16:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977644096 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-04-02T01:16:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977618068 She was excited. Her enthusiasm was overwhelming. I promised her, "Yes. We can do it Sunday afternoon." That was on Friday afternoon. By Saturday night I hadn't heard from her. Maybe . . . Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:08:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977618068 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-03-09T05:08:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977591918 a thick manilla envelope. Return address indicated it was from my lawyer. The cover letter said something about  "several copies of documents pertaining to your case." Another invoice . . . Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:09:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977591918 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-02-12T04:09:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977574327 Whenever I go out on a photography expedition  I like to take photos of all the usual things. Waterfalls. Mountains. Birds. Old buildings. No kittens or puppies, though! But, I also like to look . . . Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:20:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977574327 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-01-25T18:20:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977567950 The American Coot ( Fulica americana ) is a bird of the family Rallidae, inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies. About 16 inches (40 cm) in length and weighing 1.4 lb (0.65 kg), adults have a short . . . Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:45:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977567950 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2009-01-19T18:45:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977539954 The kids are out of school today because of snow for the 4th day this week. But, they still expected me to go to work! After scraping the snow and ice off my car I got in and started my journey. As . . . Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:30:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977539954 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-12-19T14:30:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977431006 At the Oregon State Fair they have a chairlift that goes from one end of the fairgrounds to the other. It's a good way to get a different perspective of what's going on below. . . . Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:14:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977431006 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-26T21:14:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977430990 When you're too young to ride the bulls your only choice is to be a Muttonbuster! Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:43:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977430990 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-26T20:43:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977429643 That's right. When Summer is winding down it's time for the State Fair! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:10:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977429643 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-25T12:10:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977429553 One of the fun things to do in the summer is to go to a County Fair. In my neck of the woods it's the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo in Canby, Oregon. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:33:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977429553 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-25T02:33:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977428164 It's Summer and things in the Mt. Hood National Forest don't get any better! Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:53:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977428164 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-23T07:53:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427951 From sunsets to storms , Summer Skies are some of the best. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:40:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427951 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-22T20:40:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427851 Rivers. Swimming Pools. Waterfalls. Lakes. Rivers. Streams. They're all good places to go in the S u mmer . Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:33:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427851 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-22T18:33:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427446 The sun comes out and they're everywhere! Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:32:24 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427446 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-22T17:32:24Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427147 I just thought I'd share a collection of flowers that I've found around my neck of the woods. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:29:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427147 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-22T00:29:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427004 Last Sunday I went for a hike up Lookout Mountain . Just before leaving the mountain I heard thunder. So, I stopped and took a few photos of the lightning. No lightning yet... Then just . . . Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:35:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977427004 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-21T20:35:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977425548 I was sitting around the house and decided there had to be a better place to be on a Sunday afternoon. So I grabbed my cameras and a pack and hopped in the car for a trip to Lookout Mountain. . . . Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:49:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977425548 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-20T20:49:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977417098 Cropping. It's a good way to get the most out of your photography. This is a series of crops I did of a single photograph to highlight different parts of the original. Just about any photo editing . . . Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:29:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977417098 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-08-08T22:29:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977374403 One Sunday last April I woke up and looked out the window. The sky was clear. I opened the window and it was actually warm outside. It was a beautiful day! So, I decided to take a Sunday drive. . . . Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:23:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977374403 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-06-16T10:23:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371292 One Sunday last April I woke up and looked out the window. The sky was clear. I opened the window and it was actually warm outside. It was a beautiful day! So, I decided to take a Sunday drive. . . . Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:57:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371292 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-06-16T04:57:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371286 One Sunday last April I woke up and looked out the window. The sky was clear. I opened the window and it was actually warm outside. It was a beautiful day! So, I decided to take a Sunday drive. . . . Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:29:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371286 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-06-15T21:29:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371283 One Sunday last April I woke up and looked out the window. The sky was clear. I opened the window and it was actually warm outside. It was a beautiful day! So, I decided to take a Sunday drive. . . . Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:09:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371283 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-06-15T10:09:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371278 One Sunday last April I woke up and looked out the window. The sky was clear. I opened the window and it was actually warm outside. It was a beautiful day! So, I decided to take a Sunday drive. . . . Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:56:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977371278 Rick *Don Rico* J. 2008-06-13T22:56:25Z