Season's First Snowmen

Jackson Joblinske,6, left, and Mason Joblinske,9, right, of Waterloo, work together building snowmen in their front yard on Lyon Avenue,on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Tree-Trimming

Scott Anderson, at top, uses a cherry-picker to decorate his uncles trees in front of his home on Hammond Avenue with over-sized ornaments on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Scott Anderson, while in a cherry-picker, inspects an over-sized Christmas ornament before hanging it on a tree in front of his uncle's home on Hammond Avenue in Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

UNI vs. Maine

Northern Iowa's Tre'Darrius Canady, left, goes in for a tackle on Maine's Jhamal Fluellen, right, in the first half of the NCAA Div. I first round game on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Maine's Lionel Nixon, left, is fended off by Northern Iowa's Derrick Law in the second half of the NCAA Div. I first round game on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 in Cedar Falls, Iowa
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Northern Iowa's Darrell Lloyd, left, and Austin Steichen, right, celebrate after the team received the Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship Trophey Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Gearing Up

Gerardo Balam prepares gear for snorkeling on a Manta Sports owned Catamaran in Cozumel, Mexico on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Inspired

Carol Smiley, of Parkersburg, Iowa, poses with her original piece, "Daniel in the Lion's Den", at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. In her hands, Carol holds the inspiration for her work. The canvas, by light, shows Daniel surrounded by lions, but when the piece is exposed to black light an angel appears.

©Dawn J. Sagert

Hoops

Northern Iowa's Adam Koch, attempts to sink the ball on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, as Texas Southern's David Burrell, left, and Sollie Norwood, right, move into block at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

The Interview

A toy John Deere tractor is displayed in the foreground as Clay Mitchell, of Clay Mitchell Farms in Buckingham, Iowa, background, works on his laptop at his farm on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Smoogie, a six-month old Irish Wolfhound, chews on a reporter's shoe while he interviews Smoogie's owner, Clay Mitchell, about nighttime harvesting.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Polar Bare Run

Josh Pommer, left, David Parrott, center, and Erik Wolter, right, painted with UNI colors, sign waivers in order to participate in the Second Annual Polar Bare Run on the UNI campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008. Parrott was the first participant to cross the finish line.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Participants rush from the starting line in the Second Annual Polar Bare Run on the UNI campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008. Participants were encouraged to wear new or slightly used winter apparel to register and then shed the items before the run. Items were then donated to the Salvation Army.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Caribbean Shadow

My shadow (with Mark II and Pina Colada in-hand) rests on the shore of the Caribbean Sea in Cozumel, Mexico on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Upward

An escalater leads to the SkyLink tram at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport in Dallas, Texas, Friday, Nov. 7, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Youth Hockey

Owen Schoonover, 4, of the team Atoms, serpentines around cones at youth hockey practice on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 at Young Arena in Waterloo, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

En Route

Two people walk in the rain toward the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the shelter at Overman Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Swerve

Officials work to turn a GMC Envoy to set it right-side-up after the vehicle landed on it's top on University Avenue in Waterloo, Iowa, on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008. The accident occurred while the driver was changing lanes and swerved abruptly to avoid another vehicle. The driver was uninjured and the passenger sustained only minor injuries.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Sometimes...

©Dawn J. Sagert

...remembering just isn't good enough. Especially when it's cold and rainy outside.

Wedding at Sunset

Jennifer and Troy Mrstik celebrate their wedding vows with a glass of champagne at sunset on the white sandy shore of Cozumel, Mexico on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

The Dawn

Dawn breaks across the morning sky viewed through a residue and smudge covered window on a flight from Dallas, Texas to Cozumel, Mexico on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

The Planning Phase

Georgia and Bob Smith, left and right respectively, of New Hartford look over plans displayed for the rebuilding of the town at the FEMA open house in New Hartford, Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008. New Hartford was hit by an EF-5 Tornado on May 25, 2008, followed by flooding weeks later. Members of the community were encouraged to attend the event, and to give their input on how to prioritize building.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

A Tropical Portrait

A parrot rests on a wicker end-table in the lobby of The Iberostar Resort in Cozumel, Mexico on Monday, Oct. 2, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Barred

A boy wearing clown make-up washes a car behind the bars that surround a home in Cozumel, Mexico on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert


Three clothed canines guard the entrance of a home surrounded by protective bars in Cozumel, Mexico on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.
©Dawn J. Sagert

My First Sunset in Cozumel

The sun sets over the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008 in Cozumel, Mexico.
©Dawn J. Sagert

Hola! I've gotten a little behind on my blogging-not for a lack of images. This was my first sunset in Cozumel, Mexico. It has been an amazing week--and I think my first REAL vacation! Except for the one day I was "working", it has been an all-inclusive adventure. I'll have more images later. It will likely be a slide show. Just wanted to update-adiós for now!

Wartburg vs. Luther

Wartburg's John VanDenHul, left, breaks up a pass meant for Luther's Jesse Kent, right, at Wartburg on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 in Waverly, Iowa.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Cedar Valley Chase

Cathy Earles, left, gets waxed by Emily Ball, right, as one of the challenges of the Cedar Valley Chase, as others look look on awaiting their turn on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The chase is a fundraising event that sends teams of two out on a scavenger hunt throughout the Cedar Valley. Each team is given a list of twelve challenges and their descriptions, but are required to complete only ten of the twelve within the specified time span.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier