RANDOMS

Street art mural with white, cubist figures on a reddish-brown wall, windows, door, and green sign.

ROTE FABRIK ART CENTRE—Zürich, Switzerland

Who doesn't enjoy a good chair fight in the nude? Not sure who the mural artist is, but it's well done. Once a factory and then a squat, the ROTE FABRIK (Red Factory) is now a wonderful art center on Lake Zürich.

Small brown and white puppy standing on a green floor in front of a red wall and scattered books.

STREET PUP—Central Thailand

Adorable!!! We happened across this pup while traveling through central Thailand. Just look at those little puppy toes!

Two people and a mannequin with scarves and hats outdoors near a blue box labeled "Buches" and a chair

FRENCH FLEA MARKET—Limosin, France

Sales were low abysmally low at our flea market stand in central France, so we raised the mannequin's skirt a few inches and started hamming it up. Sales worsened. Too avant garde, perhaps?

Old-fashioned street lamp on a worn, discolored brick wall with a cable extending below.

DANISH STREET LAMP—Copenhagen, Denmark

It's just a large street lamp on a wall of weathered brick, but the combination is oddly beautiful.

Two black birds on a car with an overcast sky and power line in the background.

GRACKLES—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

While sitting in my car with a storm threatening, two large grackles suddenly landed on the car in front of me. Creepy!

Person mimics kissing a large elderly man's face sculpture near the Colosseum in Rome, with tourists.

COLOSSEUM KISS—Rome, Italy

Posing outside the Roman Colosseum—I'm pretending to kiss the cheek of an old man with a crumbly nose, when actually I've just positioned myself in front a giant poster for a "relics exhibit" that's off in the distance.

Stone statue of a robed woman with two children, pigeon on head, trees and buildings in background.

TRUPHÈME STATUE—Aix-en-Provence, France

It's a nice statue, but it's the bird on the head that really makes the photo.

Sign on a building stating "Life is too short for bad coffee" in white on a black background.

CATCHY CAFÉ SIGN―Seattle, Washington, USA

Sooooooo TRUE!

Recycling station with bins for general waste, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and paper.

TRASH MANAGEMENT―Zürich, Switzerland

PAPER-ALUMINUM-PLASTIC-TRASH! It's a recycling receptacle that is both attractive and functional, and these are all over town. Hats off to the Swiss!

Weathered winged female statue with intricate headwear in a fountain setting.

FOUNTAIN ANGEL—Geneva, Switzerland

This bronze angel with a stoic expression is doing a splendid job of supporting a huge fountain bowl with her wings, but she doesn't look very happy about it. Shhhhhhh, she's concentrating!

Cow lying on a red mat outside a store on a sidewalk with nearby shop entrances and merchandise.

BOVINE GREETER—Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal

Black and white stencil of a stylized female face with prominent eyes and lips on rough concrete.

AUDREY GRAFFITI—Limoges, France

I'm not a big fan of grafitti on public buildings, but I love this spray-painted stencil. Whoever the art bandit is, they did a great job. Classic Audrey!

Halloween doll with a skull head and bulging eyes, dressed in plaid shirt, overalls, and purple boots.

SKELETAL MASCOT—Austin, Texas, USA

This is Edwin, a googly-eyed skeleton that we somehow adopted as a family mascot. Check out those hot pink boots...KILLER!

Man in bandana and protective glasses looking up, red car in background, outdoors.

SOLAR ECLIPSE (8/21/2017)—Wyoming, USA

I drove to Wyoming in 2017 to experience "The Great American Eclipse" from within the totality zone. Got my safety glasses on...just waiting for the lights to dim.

Moose standing on snowy and grassy terrain surrounded by trees and bushes.

MOOSE SIGHTING—Red Feather Lakes, CO, USA

While working on the The Great Stupa, this beautiful creature would periodically walk by my hillside hut and pause by my door. I think she had a crush on me!

Adult and child in costumes seated outdoors, adult with a black wig, child in superhero outfit.

HALLOWEEN CREATURES—San Diego, CA, USA

Here I am, wearing a ratty wig and sitting beside my niece, Kte (dressed as a "Super Bee"), at a Halloween party in San Diego. She's like, "I don't know him!"

Stone statue of a nude female with raised arm, moss growth, surrounded by dense greenery and trees.

PARK SCULPTURE—Toulouse, France

Meanwhile, inside the "Jardin des Plantes" (Garden of Plants), some debris has fallen onto the shoulders of this nude sculpture. She knows it's there, of course, but she remains unfazed and holds her pose.

Street musician with dreadlocks and colorful shorts playing a cello barefoot on a cobblestone street

BAREFOOT BUSKER—Toulouse, France

Who doesn't like a barefoot cellist in France with his dreads pulled up in beehive?

Lavishly decorated festive bar and dining area with ornaments, illuminated garlands, and vintage dolls.

OUTRAGEOUS DECOR—Rolf's Restaurant, NYC

It's an odd and outrageous decor choice for a German Restaurant—Christmas bobbles EVERYWHERE! You've got to hand it to them, though...they went for it!

Blurry close-up of a person's face with an indistinct, dimly lit indoor background.

IRISH PUBBING—Theater District, NYC

Fun selfie from inside O'Donoghue’s Irish pub near Times Square in the Theater District. Would someone call me a cab?

Person in dark clothes kneeling with headscarf, orange bowl on pavement, pedestrians in background.

HUMBLE BEGGER—Lyon, France

A woman assumes a humble begging position on the pavement outside the Lyon Part Dieu train station. It's a difficult, powerful image.

Smiling person with vibrant neon face paint in abstract patterns, pictured in a dark environment.

FULL MOON PARTY—Koh Phangan, Thailand

She looks like a psychedelic firefly or maybe a warrior-goddess from the Avatar jungle.

Person with green sunglasses pointing to two red Adirondack chairs in an outdoor scenic setting.

RED CHAIRS—Banff National Park, Canada

LOOK WHAT I FOUND! To encourage people to get out in nature, Parks Canada placed over 200 red Adirondak chairs in primo lookout spots across the country, including 11 in Banff National Park. Brilliant idea—it's like a scavenger hunt!

Black dog with brown eyes sitting in a vehicle, looking sideways with a calm expression.

DOGGIE SHUTTLE—to Enid, Oklahoma

I can't remember her name, but I transported this sweet black dog to her new home in Enid, Oklahoma. It was only a hour+ drive, but by the end of it, I was in love and didn't really want to turn her over. She's a total heart thief!

Building wall with various graffiti, including a smiling cloud character and the word "CRAP!" above it.

CRAPPY GRAFFITI—Athens, Greece

The message if pretty clear, but why a smiley cloud with blue legs and sneakers? I'd love to interview the artist and find out!

Stone carving depicting a serene figure with intricate headgear and jewelry, showcasing craftsmanship.

STONE CARVING—Angkor Wat, Cambodia

This female form was carved into a stone pillar. Notice the elaborate headpiece, decorative draping across the chest, oversized earrings with stretched lobes, and the elongated and flowering index finger.

Smiling man with beanie in the foreground, dimly lit vehicle interior, several people in back.

JOY RIDE—Banff, Canada

This photo was taken during a publishing conference, and we all went for dinner one night and then piled back in to our van-shuttle to head back to the hotel. I can't recall what had me in hysterics, but I do know that most of us (except the driver) had a few glasses wine at dinner and when you cram that many people into the back of a van and add a little alcohol to the mix, the conversation starts to get goofy.

Cow grazing amid urban waste with residential buildings in the background and cloudy sky overhead.

TRASH GRAZING—Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu is a wonderful city with a vibe all its own. Cows grazing on trash in a vacant lot in the heart of a city? Now that's something you don't see every day.

Two people in a kitchen, arms overhead, one smiling broadly, background with range hood and framed picture.

KITCHEN YOGA—Findhorn Bay, Scotland

I'm doing some kitchen yoga with my friend and colleague from Argentina, Carolina.

Vibrant pink flower with yellow ringed dark center, green leaves, and wood mulch background.

PINK & PRETTY—Dechen Chöling Centre, France

Beautiful pink blossom, and LOOK, there's a miniature garden of tiny yellow flowers growing in the center.

Brown dog stretching on a sidewalk near a curb, a pink car and road in the background, hand visible.

STREET HOUND—Bankok, Thailand

Now THAT's a stretch!

Two smiling individuals close together; one wears green glasses and scarf, the other has a bald head and earring.

TWO GOOFBALLS—Dharmakaya Stupa CO, USA

Posing with my goofy artist friend and Stupa Director, Joshua Mulder. Love the glasses, and he's one of the most gentle men on the planet.

White dog with brown patches on head and ears resting on a cushion; plaid blanket in background.

LUCY in REPOSE—Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA

Great shot of my dear furry friend, Lucy, as she contemplates life and her next meal.

Person meditating cross-legged on stone pedestal in ancient stone structure with weathered blocks.

HALF LOTUS—Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Ohhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Children painting a colorful SUV under a tent outdoors with a building labeled "Athenaeum" in background.

PAINTING CREW—San Diego, California, USA

This was part of an art program in San Diego, and the young artists at work are Kate, Cole, and Grant, my brother's kids. Love the use of pink—PURE GENIUS!

Young man and woman smiling outdoors, man with shoulder-length brown hair, woman with wavy brown hair.

SIBLING FLASHBACK—California, USA

Nice vintage photo of me/Ralph with my younger sister, Jennifer (now deceased) on a family trip to California. Not sure, but I think this shot was taken while riding the Disneyland tram. Wow, would you look at all that beautiful 80s hair!

Street sign for Drury Lane in Borough of Holborn, postal code W.C.2.

DRURY LANE EXISTS!!!—London, England

I looked for the Muffin Man—didn't see him, but I hear he lives in the area.

A small broken Statue of Liberty replica, head and torch detached, with "New York" inscription.

FRIDGE MAGNET—Oklahoma City, USA

This magnet fell off the refrigerator door one day while I was working on a project, and Lady Liberty lost her head. I looked down, saw the severed head, and I immediately thought, "Wow, that is spot on spooky!" I don't think I glued it back on either, which is probably why we're still in this mess.

Two boys in dim light, one holding a basketball, both wearing T-shirts, standing side by side.

CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK—Bartlesville, OK, USA

Here I am playing outdoor basketball with my best friend, Jeff, when we were age 10 or so. Yeah, that's me/Ralph on the right, looking like an Italian thug. Talk about a trip back in time!

Person sculpting a detailed mythological figure with an expressive face and elaborate headdress in a studio.

FIERCE ARTISTRY—Dharmakaya Stupa, CO, USA

IS SHE TICKLISH? There were once 6 or more of these fierce deity sculptures in process. Created by artist, Joshua Mulder, these figures were to be set in baskets and hung in an upper chamber of the stupa. Sadly though, the sculptures were destroyed in 2020 when the Cameron Peak Fire burned the Visitors Center and workshop to the ground.

Worn brown leather boots with untied laces on a sandy surface.

BEACH SHOES—Coolangatta, Austraila

A pair of gold boots sit quietly on the Gold Coast, awaiting the return of their owner. Looks like someone went for a swim!

Numerous small, golden oil lamps with bright flames closely arranged together.

BOUDHANATH CANDLES—Kathmandu, Nepal

A gorgeous candle display burns bright near the Boudanath Stupa. More is more in this case.

Donkey with colorful beads and head decoration, blue sky, water, and mountains in the background.

WELL-DRESSED MULE—Santorini, Greece

Nice headwear! A decorated mule taxi awaits a passenger on some stone steps down to the water in the town of Oia in Santorini, Greece.

Red coffee cup with light brown beverage on red vehicle roof, black vehicle and building in background.

RED CUP RED CAR—Oklahoma City, OK, USA

It's nice when your coffee cup matches your car!

Two people seated outdoors with a Toshiba laptop on a low table, surrounded by various items.

BACKYARD WEB SURFING—Limousin, France

I don't recall what we were Googling or looking at on the laptop that night, but I remember we had a great time out there, just sitting on the ground.

Two men at a bar counter with tropical mural, sipping drinks, pastries and utensils on the counter.

ESPRESSO SIP—Barcelona, Spain

I wasn't expecting such a fancy little cup and saucer.

Buffalo standing on grassy area with trees in background, tied with a rope to the ground.

WATER BUFFY—Koh Phanghan, Thailand

We passed by this black water buffalo while motorbiking across the island. Poor thing...tied to a tree in Thailand!

Red human figure sculptures with lampshades as heads in dimly-lit restaurant with tables and chairs.

PUB STREET DECOR—Siem Reap, Cambodia

Some quirky lamps in a cafe in the Pub District in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

White cat lying on its back on a person's lap in a cozy indoor setting with a brick floor.

PETE—Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA

Pete belongs to my dear friend, Kelly, and is one of my favorite furry creatures on the planet. NOTE: the angle of this photo is a little odd and makes his back legs appear super long. He looks like a kangaroo, right?

Person in white traditional attire with turban and sash on colorful stage with floral backdrop and chair.

THEATER GENIE—Heidelberg, Germany

The theater director needed a genie for his production of "Secret Garden", so I put on a turbin and stepped into that role (and those pointy shoes). Abracadabra!

Cozy bedroom with warm lighting, a bed, lace curtains, lantern, colorful lamp, and green tree view.

TRAILER CHIC—Dechen Chöling Centre, France

During one of my stays at the Dechen Chöling Retreat Centre in central France, I fixed up my trailer accomodation and gave it an Asian flair. Oooolala, it's trailer très chic!

Close-up upward view of a large tree trunk with textured bark and branches extending outward.

BIG REDWOOD—North Island, New Zealand

Looking up at a big beautiful tree in a redwood park just north of Wellington. Humbling!

Cat with orange and white fur in blue pet cone resting on a cat scratcher, face partially obscured

PIMENTO IN REHAB—Austin, Texas, USA

Young "Pimento", one of our family cats, shows off his protective collar following a vet procedure.

Long aged stone hallway with wooden steps and multiple doorways creating a perspective view.

STONE GATEWAYS—Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Here, you're looking through a series of ancient stone gateways with steps leading up, over, and through each gateway. It's a beautiful photo, but the perspective creates an optical illusion, much like a house of mirrors!

Black and white portrait of a person with sunglasses, cigarette, ornate frame, and small decorative items.

CAMPY PHOTO—Austin, Texas, USA

I spotted this vintage and very campy black and white photo in a gawdy frame in an equally campy bar in Austin, Texas. I don't know who this woman is, but a friend of mine has named her "Brenda".

Snowman with bottle cap eyes, carrot nose, twig mouth, scarf, parked cars, snow-covered area.

GOOFY SNOWMAN—Austin, TX, USA

A goofy snowman with bottle cap eyes, twig teeth, and a stylish blue neck-scarf graciously poses for a photo during the deep winter freeze across Texes in early 2021.