I LOVE A PARADE...

In spite of economic hard times and frigid temperatures, the 25th annual Star City Holiday Parade in Lincoln, Nebraska was a smashing success this year. Organized by the 'Updowntowners', the festive event held yearly in early December enjoyed a record turnout. A crowd of 100,000 lined the streets ten deep in downtown Lincoln to celebrate the day and share holiday cheer all around...

Here I am enjoying the good life a couple days later... They say if you don't like the weather in Nebraska, just wait a few minutes... it's bound to change. No parade this week.

I might get a little exuberant at times over my appreciation of Nebraska, but like they say, 'There's no place like home!' Good honest people, good friends, good times...

My homies know what I mean...

There is no place like Nebraska!

Tom

POETRY IN MOTION...

Serendipity...the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.

'Serendib' is one of the ancient names of modern Sri Lanka. In the West the offshoot word senendipity became common in the 18th century due to English man of letters, Horace Walpole. He coined the word, having been inspired by a Persian fairy tale, 'The Three Princes of Senendib' whose heroes often made discoveries by chance. To this day in Sri Lanka, senendipitous occurrences are common and often acknowledged ... like this one...

The 'Monk' (affectionate nickname for my son) and I were lolling around in the afternoon shade of the 'Drunken Monkey', one of our favorite Hikkaduwa surf beach spots. As we occasionally glanced seaward keeping an eye out for action in the surf or on the beach, our glance became a gaze when we spotted the graceful tandem moves of an apparently foreign couple frolicking on the shore. The more we watched the more we became caught up in their highly professional skills and mutual understanding executed adeptly on the edge of the lapping waves. After some time, the handsome couple headed our way and we couldn't help commenting on their beauty and what a treat is was to watch them in action. We introduced ourselves and became friendly in no time, which is common in that laid back setting. We learned they were indeed professional dancers from Paris, France and were on a short holiday in Sri Lanka, having recently performed in Colombo. Being quite humble and very accommodating, they agreed to meet me and my camera a little later in the day for a repeat performance down by the waterside. What a treat!...the best impromptu shoot ever!!!

Let me introduce Tamara Fernando and Kirikoo and share with you a few pix from our little time on the beach in Hikkaduwa...

We even had a serendipitous rainbow show up during our short time together...

Keep your balance... you never know what's coming your way...

A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn...

Tom

WHEN THE MAN COMES AROUND...

I recently met up with Dr. Tom Osborne, Athletic Director at the University of Nebraska, to get a shot for our upcoming 2010 issue of 'Lincoln Today' magazine. Coach Osborne was warmly welcomed back at the University in 2008 as AD to right the ship in Huskerville and restore traditions dear of the people of Nebraska... traditions envied by knowledgeable sports fans everywhere.

Considered one of the all-time best coaches in college football, Tom Osborne is a legend. Peerless as an offensive mastermind and fiercely competitive, he is most respected as a gentleman of principle and high moral character, who not only knows how to win but how people tick, as well.

In every sport, coaches are always looking for playmakers, impact players who rise to the occasion and make the difference in competition. But, no matter how talented the players, a winning team always needs 'a straw to stir the drink'...a phrase coined describing Reggie Jackson, 'Mister October', baseball superstar of World Series fame. Reggie once said, "I'll tell you what makes a great manager; a great manager has a knack for making ball-players think they are better than they are. He forces you to have a good opinion of yourself. He lets you know he believes in you. He makes you get more out of yourself. And, once you learn how good you really are, you'll never settle for playing anything less than your very best."

Coach Osborne had that knack.

Here are a few shots from the glory days when Coach Tom roamed the sidelines...

Coach Osborne always said the game was won by how you prepared in practice, and he always practiced what he preached...

... I should know since he was my Sunday school teacher when I was just a kid.

It's been a good run,

Tom

TALK ABOUT COOL...

...these guys have got it goin' on!!! 

 I may be a little biased about my boy, Luke, but Wynton Marsalis, one of the finest jazz musicians of all time, definitely walks away with the prize.

He kicked off  his superb performance with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska with his rendition of 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm'.  He cretainly knew his audience and won lots of hearts right off.

After the show,  Wynton cordially agreed to mix backstage with several admirers. He and Luke hit it off and shared a few moments of mutual affection which was cool and fun to be a part of. But, what was most impressive to see, was Wynton's personal touch on display. Being an award winning artist of international acclaim he could have easily basked in the lingering applause from his encore performance and considered his evening's work to be over. Instead, he chose to stick around and make some friends. Carrying with him the love and genuine respect shared between the boys in the band onstage, he entered the room and made a beeline to the wheelchaired fellow he spotted in the far corner.  Kneeling down, he talked warmly for some time and sincerely thanked the man for coming out to hear him play.  Then, as he mingled and showed personal interest in the rest of the fans, he came to a young kid who exuberantly proclaimed, 'Hey, I play the trumpet, too!'  Wynton said, 'Go, get your horn', and spent the next hour giving the kid the time and lesson of his life. 

Now, that's cool!

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing...

Tom

OPIUM FOR THE MASSES...

...And, man, this is pretty good stuff!!!

Outsiders may snicker about Nebraska with its predominately rural population and its 'a little rough around the edges' down home ways. But, there is more going on around here than often meets the eye. Sometimes, it shines through and hearts are revealed... events seeming to bring out the best in folks all around. In this case it just happens to be the statewide tradition of supporting the beloved University of Nebraska football team. 

Last weekend, the whole state celebrated one of the most amazing records in the modern era of sports... the 300th consecutive sellout of Memorial Stadium for home games in Lincoln, Nebraska!

Yes, you may say it's just a game and there are certainly more pressing matters in the world today, but for insiders, you know what 'There's no place like Nebraska' means... For the rest of you, please click on these two links and you'll get an idea of what makes us proud to be Cornhuskers in Nebraska and what all the shouting is really about...

http://www.espn1420.com/Default.aspx?tabid=3710&EntryID=6695

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8707247

Go Big Red!!!

Tom

AS SWEET AS THEY COME...

In all of creation there is no beauty surpassing what can be seen with the eye in nature. And in nature, there is nothing more exquisitely fair than a graceful woman.

It has been my good fortune to spend considerable time in Asian cultures where women have not been 'liberated' to the point of losing the allure of true femininity...where much of the time, more is conveyed through the eyes, expression, posture and movement than through words.

In the understanding of the ancients, heavenly wisdom was assigned a female identity. Hence, the poise and attraction of classic beauty always corresponded and reflected a higher, more subtle and spiritual source.

Recently, I had the great pleasure of doing a promotional shoot with two of the top models in Sri Lanka... Natasha Rathnayake and Piorina (Peachy) Fernando – two of the nicest people around – obviously pretty on the outside but just as beautiful within. Peachy is one of the queens of the catwalk and Natasha is a genuine recording and performing star. Check out her website at...www.natasharathnayake.com

Needless to say, we had a great shoot and lots of fun. If you want to see more pix from our afternoon in the studio go to my website...

http://www.tidballphoto.com/motiongallery/latest.htm

Here are a few for now...

Peachy

Natasha

in appreciation of beauty all around,

here's hoping all your connections are true...

Tom

I DON'T DO WEDDINGS... part 2

Well, here I go again...me and my trusty little pocket camera. It served me well on the beach in Sri Lanka. Thought I'd give it another whirl at the wedding of my only sister's only daughter, pretty Jobie Zeman in New Caanan, Connecticut. I still don't do weddings, but this was another fun event made easy to shoot with my slick little friend. Great people, great weather, great time...

Talk about fun! Any wedding that includes water basketball on the agenda has gotta be good...and for the record, I DEMAND A REMATCH!!! 

We have a great family and it's always a blast when we get together. Talented in a lot of areas, especially in athletics, so the competitive juices always flow... no fist fights this time.

I had a wonderful time reconnecting with family members I don't get to see nearly as much as I'd like. For the most part all are keeping it together... quality family people loving each other, fervently prizing their kids and raising them with truth as the standard... a pretty good bunch to be connected to.

Here are just a few pix from the extravaganza. I'll be posting more on my website if you want to see more of what my little friend can do... check it out at

http://www.tidballphoto.com/index.htm

Click on 'Latest' below the homepage picture.

Jobie Lane (I love that name!) and Brian...welcome to the family!

pretty maids all in a row...

my dad, John 'the Big Dog' and Sriyani

lovely Erin and Sarah...

my brother's kids...everyone a winner!

the awesome Bidrman's...

rising star, Jessie Tidball

we cleaned up pretty well this time...

Happy Feet, Al Zeman with sweet Tara

Here's to Jobie and Brian... 

to a level path with all blessings from above,

Love's enough,

Uncle Tom