Halloween Pt II

Bill Hock was the official photographer for Halloween at The Cactus Grill. Here are a couple of me. I might decide to keep the tattoo arms. I only wish I could have kept the hair.

Vegas, PA

Big Chill (the classic rock in which I play) performed at the Halloween Party at our home base, the Cactus Grill in Pipersville, PA. The theme was "Vegas." I managed to make a few photographs between the notes. This one of my bandmate and his lady is my favorite.

There are a few more here: http://www.michaelmancuso.us/cactus/

Buddy Guy

Blues icon Buddy Guy influenced and continues to influence many people. He influenced Jimi Hendrix. That's all I need to know. He stopped by Trenton, New Jersey to perform (in spite of a cold) at Patriots Theatre in the War Memorial. A Buddy Guy concert is an education. Here's how he would look if I were a painter.

On this song, called Skin Deep, he plays an electric sitar. How cool is that?

Battle of the Birds

Philadelphia Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin makes a TD catch in the 2nd quarter despite the best efforts of Atlanta Falcons CB Brent Grimes. Maclin had a banner day, 7 receptions for 159 yds and 2 TDs.

New acquisition, RB Eldra Buckley only has one speed, top. Here he gets hit during a run in the 4th quarter by Atlanta Falcons #28 DeCoud, Thomas & #92 Chauncey Davis.

LeSean McCoy led in rushing with 21 carries for 64 yards, most, but not all of them with at least one foot on the ground.

Eagles TE Brent Celek runs after a catch.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid watches the clock before calling a timeout.

DeSean Jackson is helped off the field after a brutal hit.

Jeremy Maclin doesn't like the ground either.

QB Kevin Kolb releases...

...stands in cool light...

...and gets off another throw. He went 23 for 29, for 326 yds and a QB rating of 133.6.

Trent Cole celebrates a sack.

Who says you can't go home?

The much-anticipated return of Donovan McNabb to Lincoln Financial Field (in his first time as the Washington Redskins quarterback) was full of unanticipated happenings.

Here he takes to the field for pre-game warmups before fans were admitted to their seats.

Later, he scurried in (under armed guard) and when his name was announced, the fans greeted him warmly, with applause and a standing ovation.

Donovan flies like an eagle to celebrates his first TD pass.

His replacement on the Eagles, Michael Vick nears the end of a gutsy 23-yd run to the goal line...

...where two Redskins converged and made him into a broken-rib sandwich.

Vick's a warrior. He got up to walk off but fell to his knees, reminding me of an old photo of NY Giants QB Y.A Tittle. If you know what I'm talking about, you're over the same hill I am.

Eagles FB Owen Schmitt comes back to earth after attempting to hurdle a defender.

RB LeSean McCoy contributed an impressive 174 combined yards, receiving and running.

On the final play of the game, a "Hail Mary" pass into the endzone, Eagles WR Jason Avant has a firm grip on the ball...

...but only for a fraction of a second, and the Eagles can't steal a victory.

However, McNabb and his ex, Eagles head coach Andy Reid, can steal a hug on the field after the game, while McNabb's new head coach Mike Shanahan , isn't looking.

Renaissance Faire fare

Hard to believe I've never been assigned to one of these before, but I finally got one yesterday. I brought my "fairy boxes" to Columbus, New Jersey and photographed the New Jersey Renaissance Faire. There weren't cameras back then, so I had fairy boxes. And I wasn't a newspaper photographer while I was there I was a "scribe". I tried to keep a low profile during the wench auction and I kept my cell phone in my pocket to avoid being exposed as a bad wizard.

And...action!

This past weekend was the Philadelphia Eagles home opener followed the next day by a high school soccer game. Vastly different levels of playing fields, but they do have something essential in common - contact.