"Abstract" Rockaway Twp NJ USA, 20260220, Canon G1X. Like fishermen, we photographers have our own version of "The One That Got Away" fish stories. As I was leaving a Walmart store today, the doors opened and a stream of young men, perhaps 15 or so, immaculately dressed in suits came into the store. My first thought was that they were from a private school, they had that "look", but then I noticed that they were each dressed in a different suit with no beards, normal haircuts, no sneakers, and all of them looking trim and fit! I suddenly felt as if I was in some strange movie. A few more came in and a few came out and I started asking them a few questions, "What is going on here?". They were a hockey team, they were from Canada, and their bus was out in the parking lot. Then it hit me, Inspiration!! Since I happened to have my trusty Canon G1 at my side, I asked them if they'd like a group photo of the whole team in Walmart. "Yes!". I pointed out that the only space big enough was immediately inside the entrance doors, so in we went. A few more joined up, and a manager chanced to be there [his Halloween photo with my Great-Grand Daughter is here on Pixelfed]. It was "OK" with him to take a photo! But, as we waited and chatted, some more came in and some left. It was simply too chaotic to get them all together at the same time, and they had to get back to their tour bus. No Photo was Taken. Because of the way that they were uniquely "attired", it would have been a "once-in-a-lifetime" photo op. In the chatting I found out that they were the Canadian International Men's Under-20 hockey team. I offered to be their team's "Photographer in Residence", and asked if they might sneak me into the back of their bus and take me with them back to Canada. -Phil

Your photos come through Pixelfed without getting squashed like mine and everyone else's. Is this something you do? -Phil

Oh! That's really so sad! The two whiter birds may be the parents of five goslings, because as white swan goslings age their bills become orange. Two of them have a foot up on their tail, whether by intent or accident. On the adult, at first I thought that might be a dead muskrat, but that may be the result of a wing injury. They may in the green scum by choice - I have several photos of all kinds of waterfowl chowing down on it. Anyhow, the water is compliments of Mulberry Creek Falls (1986) in the state of Georgia, USA. -Phil