2012: Week 26

Blue skies over London, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Blue skies over London

I was having a hard time deciding which picture I wanted to use for week 26-- this one or a gratuitous Olympic rings shot, taken at Heathrow airport (once I got through the very long queue at immigration). In the end, I went with this one. I'm sure I'll have plenty of more opportunities in the coming weeks to get Olympic pictures. But who knows when we'll have sunny skies over London again...

2012: Week 25

Opa!! Flaming cheese anyone?, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Opa!! Flaming cheese anyone?

When I worked in Chicago a lifetime ago, there was a great Greek restaurant right down the street from our newspaper. My friend Joel and I made it a habit of always ordering the flaming cheese, officially known as the saganaki. As time marched on, we came to depend on the Flaming Cheese. If one of us was having a particularly bad day, the other would e-mail, "Flaming Cheese Today?" and off we would go. There's nothing like a bit of fire and tableside theatrics to brighten up your life.

Although it's been awhile since I could e-mail Joel and ask him if it was a Flaming Cheese Day, it still holds a special place in my heart. So when I went to Yia Yia Mary's in Houston with my brother and his family, I knew it was time to introduce people I love to the wonders of Flaming Cheese. Yum.

2012: Week 24

Sunrise over Houston., a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Sunrise over Houston Texas.

2012: Week 23

A Royal Jubilee knees up! Another round of God Save the Queen. Roll on fun., a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

A Royal Jubilee knees up! Another round of God Save the Queen. Roll on fun.

During the course of the Jubilee weekend, we attended five Jubilee parties. I had to go on a cake detox when it was all over, but it was great just the same. This picture was taken at a street party in Royal Hill in the Royal Borough of Greenwich during the Royal Jubilee. Is that enough Royals for you?

2012: Week 22

The Diamond Jubilee @thamespageant through my trusty periscope (in a slightly enlarged version)., a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant through my trusty periscope. Sure, I had to sell a bit of my soul to the Daily Mail to get it, but it was worth it.

We battled the crowds for hours in order to get the best spot, and we still were about six people back from the river, but at least my trusty periscope allowed me to see some of the action on the River Thames. It was a very soggy Jubilee Sunday, but we had a brilliant time just the same.