Want to know the easiest way to win in Las Vegas? It’s simple. Don’t gamble. A safer bet is to enjoy a sampling of the many other entertaining options now featured in this spectacularly unique destination.

Fortunately, that was easy to do when my son and I traveled there this summer for an overnight trip to catch a few NBA Summer League basketball games. We left Phoenix in the morning, caught a few games on the UNLV campus in the afternoon and evening, had dinner and a couple of beers, and then we called it a night in our $37 (summer rate) room in the Luxor tower.

That is an awesome aspect of traveling to Las Vegas these days. If you do not feel like paying for the casino–a dealer once told me, “Look at this beautiful facility, who do you think is winning?”–there is plenty of diverse entertainment, great food, and occasionally more than reasonable rates for quality accommodations.

And, if you are an early riser like I was on this trip, there is plenty of photoremedy to be had. Even though we may often feel like everything in Las Vegas has been photographed by nearly everyone, I enjoyed the opportunity to take a few pictures when the strip was bathed in the softness of morning light. I felt like I was able to capture a few images that were unique – at least unique for me. More importantly, I enjoyed doing it when the temperatures were below 100 degrees and when I knew I would be heading home with a little spare change in my pocket.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s well recognized that Arizona is one of America’s favorite travel destinations. The Grand Canyon, the red rocks of Sedona, native American culture, the Sonoran Desert, snow and water sports, spectacular resorts, top level golf courses, unique landscape, night life, and high-end shopping are just a few of the assets that draw people to our destination.

It’s interesting to note that many of the people who come to Arizona for such experiences first fell in love with the state when they came here to watch one of the their favorite Major League Baseball teams participate in spring training. According to the Cactus League, the 15 teams who participate in March’s pre-season games now draw 1,595,614 attendees at 233 games.

Spring Training Photoart by Greg

From harrycarays.com

I sat just below his box when the late Harry Caray stuck his head out and led the crowd in singing ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game’ during one of his last seasons broadcasting Spring Training.  The late, beloved Chicago Cubs broadcaster proved he was more than just a Budweiser expert when he once explained the appeal of baseball in the spring. Caray said, “It’s the fans that need spring training. You gotta get ’em interested. Wake ’em up and let ’em know that their season is coming, the good times are gonna roll.”

I think it was some of the Spring Training appeal we experienced that led my son, Andrew, and I to recently take a short trip to Las Vegas to catch a few of the National Basketball Association’s Summer League games. We weren’t disappointed.

Golden State rookie Harrison Barnes

We were able to see parts of games featuring eight teams, there was plenty of room to get up and move around (which is essential for me) without disturbing anyone, we were able to watch many of our former Kansas Jayhawk players in action, we were able to get really close to the action, and there was ample opportunity for a little photoremedy. Just click on an image below to view our Summer League shots in slideshow mode.

While the NBA Summer League is a bit different than MLB’s Spring Training in that it primarily features players at the beginning of their professional careers. It is still a great experience for fans like Andrew and me. And, just like Harry said, “It woke us up and reminded us that a new season is coming.” It helped us remember, “The good times are gonna roll!”

– Greg

All photographs on this blog, unless noted otherwise, are photoremedy originals.

We would love to tell you that Mary and I spent hours trying to determine the ultimate way to spend our 30th wedding anniversary. But, we cannot do that since we are not as comfortable as so many of today’s politicians are with stretching the truth.

Photos and collage by Greg

Wien Cellars

No, the truth of the matter is Mary found a Living Social deal on a boutique wine villa (appropriately named Villa del Vino) across the border from us in Temecula, California.  And, since we love getting away in the summer almost as much as we love a good deal at a great place, the anniversary journey was on.

Maurice Car’rie Winery and Kitchen

So, shortly after our actual anniversary, we headed from our Arizona home for a short stay in Idyllwild and then on to a couple of days of wine tasting and photoremedy in Temecula.

Leoness Cellars

And, what did we think?

The easiest answer is it exceeded all of our (already lofty) expectations. While Temecula is a bit of a late comer to California’s grape growing excellence, it is both beautiful and the source of some great wines. We were particularly fond of the red wines produced in this — between San Diego and Orange County — region.

South Coast Winery Resort and Spa

More importantly, as my back was acting up, the incredible photo opportunities offered by the lush and meticulously manicured countryside helped take us to a better place.

Better for me because I was up at sunrise for a leisurely photo journey and better for Mary because she was enjoying some much anticipated ‘sleeping in.’

Ponte Vineyard Inn

And, as I traveled the back country roads, one of the greatest benefits of photoremedy revealed itself to me. Instead of sitting around whining about a little ‘pain in the back,’ I was able to get out and explore how the roots of wine are often beautiful beyond description.

Callaway Vineyards

Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved. – Medieval German saying

Photoart by Greg (Monte De Oro Winery)

Many Arizonans have long considered the Southern California coast to essentially be ‘Arizona West.’

This is because: 1) It is a relatively short drive from Arizona’s major metro areas, and 2) The typically cool, ocean breeze-aided temperatures are often the ideal complement to our ‘beloved’ summer heat.

To anchor a short little 30th wedding anniversary trip, Mary found a great Living Social deal for a charming wine villa in Temecula. Temecula is an up-and-coming grape growing destination essentially between San Diego and Los Angeles that we have wanted to experience in greater detail for some time now. It ended up exceeding all of our already lofty expectations; I’ll cover that portion of our journey in greater detail in our next post.

On our way to Temecula, based on the recommendation of one of our friends who is one of Arizona’s most respected resort industry leaders, we decided to ‘idle a while in Idyllwild.’

Idyllwild is an eclectic alpine community nestled in the San Jacinto mountains on a back road between Palm Springs and Temecula. It was a great stop for us. It allowed me to give my back a break from the car ride, Mary was able to mosey around and explore a few of the town’s unique shops, and I was able to get in a little mountain top photoremedy.

We found that Idyllwild offered good wine…

really good food…

great scenery…

and even the opportunity to step back in time.

It didn’t, however, offer us much of a respite from the heat. While that would normally occur, we happened to come to town on a day when ‘more than unseasonably warm’ temperatures were sweeping through the San Jacintos (and much of the rest of the country). In the end, that didn’t matter much.

Spectacular sunrise photoremedy and special time with my bride, it seems, is what etched my most extraordinary, indelible memories of ‘Idling a while in Idyllwild.’

Sunrise over Lake Hemet – near Idyllwild, CA

Note: Photo-remedy is published as a labor of love. Please feel free to share the site, or any of our posts, with others. Our Home Page always features an option for our readers to sign up to immediately receive new material as an email. We hope you will become a part of our photo-remedy network. 

July 9, 1982: Clyde, Kansas.

Tomorrow, July 9, Mary and I celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.  I told a friend at church this morning when she congratulated us on this milestone, “People should say congratulations to me, and ‘my condolences’ to Mary.” I truly believe I got the better end of the deal!

I considered developing a reflective post about our anniversary, but I then decided that sharing a poem I wrote for Mary for Christmas after we had been married 25 years would best express my (sentimental) sentiments. Of course, I’ll also weave in a little photoremedy as well.

Much has changed in the last five years: Loved ones have gone on to their reward, two of our kids have gotten married, the first grandchild has arrived, education milestones have been accomplished, and we are all together again in Arizona. Many, many blessings.

One thing that remains the same is I continue to be eternally grateful for the sacrament of marriage. I often tell people, “Love hasn’t kept our marriage together, marriage has kept our love together.” Think about that. And, think about your version of Perfect Love.

Perfect Love

Some people want a flame that always burns bright. Some people long for a day without night. Some people want it covered every step of the way. Me? I don’t need it to be perfect, ‘cause Baby I have you. You lift me up whenever I’m down. You always keep my feet on the ground. You share my love of all that is good. Our love isn’t perfect, but it couldn’t be better.

June 30, 2012: Before the Kiana and Kiara Perez Quinceañera Mass in Culiacan, Mexico.

Three wonderful kids, some cars, and a roof over our heads. More than 25 years in the same bed. Family, friends, and a love of the Lord. With you, my friend, I’ve never been bored. I don’t need anything more, ‘cause Baby I have you. You lift me up whenever I’m down You always keep my feet on the ground. You share my love of all that is good. Our love isn’t perfect, but it couldn’t be better.

If today were the day that I breathed my last. I’m not going to complain that it all went so fast. I’ll say my prayers and thank God above, that he shared you – our heavenly dove. You lift me up whenever I’m down. You always keep my feet on the ground. You share my love of all that is good. Our love isn’t perfect, but it couldn’t be better!

Happy Anniversary, my love!

– Greg

In the 1987 Coen Brothers classic Raising Arizona, Criminal Herbert I. “Hi” McDunnough (played by Nicolas Cage) delivers one of the cult classic’s most memorable lines when he philosophized,

“Sometimes it’s a hard world for small things.”

That may be true, but I’ve found this spring and summer that: “Sometimes it’s a hard world to photograph small things.” This has been particularly true in regards to my efforts to digitally capture the escapades of several speedy hummingbirds–none seeming much larger than my index finger–that we seem to be raising in our Arizona backyard these past few weeks.

I often combat sleep challenges by investing time and attention to my plants and garden at the crack of dawn. More often than not, I am almost immediately greeted by one of ‘my birds.’ They seem to particularly enjoy hovering over our small water feature whenever I draw near.

I liked to think they enjoy the cool Sonoran Desert morning air as much as I do. It sure sounds and looks that way to me. The little guy pictured here even seems inclined to join me in giving thanks for the splendor of another new day.

The hovering signal they radiate and their frequent songs are as excitedly distinctive as a high pitched train whistle on a misty Flagstaff morning. Click here for a sample of hummingbird sounds that are strikingly similar to what I (and, often, other early risers in our neighborhood) hear.

There is an abundance of great hummingbird information available from trusted sources of online avian information. One of my favorite resources, and the one that provided the above audio sample, is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Because there is a plethora of easily accessible information, I’m not going to cover the many intriguing facts about these aerodynamic wonders in this writing. Instead, I simply want to communicate the joy that our ‘new neighbors’ have delivered.

They are truly fascinating…

acrobatic…

occasionally humorous…

and always a great source of photo-remedy (when you can capture them in focus!)

Hummingbird shows us how to re-visit the past for the purpose of releasing it instead of being caught in a permanently backward flight pattern. It also helps us to see that if we step aside we may see our life differently. Hummingbird teaches us to transcend time, to recognize that what has happened in the past and what might happen in the future is not nearly as important as what we are experiencing now. It teaches us to hover in the moment, to appreciate its sweetness.

– Constance Barrett Sohodski