Travel Oops: The Unfortunate Photo — “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!!”

Posted on January 24, 2013 by sglaser

Sydney, Australia, The Opera House. I love this picture, but this is one of those photos I’m sure my son, Eddie, will look back at and go, “Really, Mom? Why did you dress me that way…what were you thinking?!” We actually hadn’t meant to have him wear the Down Under shirt. We had limited clothes that we were wearing in Sydney because we didn’t yet want to disturb our massive suitcases that we packed for our year-long adventure in Adelaide. Eddie, who was 4-years-old at the time, did not want to pose for the photo in the first place. He did, however, like the orange color of this shirt that we had purchased for him the day before.

All we needed was Paul Hogan to photo bomb this and say, “Hey, America, visit Australia and let’s put another shrimp on the barbie!” (I recently saw the old ad in which he says something to this effect and consequently, misleads a few generations of Americans to repeat that phrase, thinking it as authentic.)

Travel Oops: The Unfortunate Photo — “I’m checking out her…form”

Posted on January 17, 2013 by sglaser

Copenhagen, Denmark: International Sand Sculpture Championship. Who can blame this man (on the far left) for checking out this form? The sculptures at this competition are truly amazing art, especially this beautiful one of a curvy naked woman. The funny thing is that his travel party is moving on and he lingers, pretty much transfixed.

Travel Oops: The Unfortunate Photo — Here’s a ‘Little Ditty’ about a Rock Star Who Didn’t Really Want his Picture Taken

Posted on January 10, 2013 by sglaser

Look at how excited John Mellencamp is to pose with me!

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA. In 1986, I posed in a photo with John (Cougar) Mellencamp, one of the biggest rock ‘n rollers in the United States at the time. “Jack and Diane,” “Hurts So Good” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “R.O.C.K’ in the USA” are a few of his “little” ditties.

You don’t need to be a body language reading expert to assess that the picture was pretty much taken against his will. That summer, Mellencamp was vacationing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I was there, too, with my good friend, Melissa, and her family. The condo where we stayed overlooked Mellencamp’s penthouse. Word on the beach was that he was staying there, and that we might run into him.

One day I was walking on the beach with Melissa’s cousin, Catherine, from Pennsylvania. She spotted Mellencamp, and being a bit more…aggressive, persistent and “east coast,” shall we say, she immediately had a mission. “Come awwwn, Steph…let’s go talk to him,” Catherine said as she trooped over to get his photo. She shoved me in the picture, and I felt very awkward, especially since it was clear John did not want to be bothered.

John Cougar Mellencamp's penthouse © Stephanie Glaser 1986

Travel Oops: The Unfortunate Photo — “Is There a Snake in Your Pants or Are You Happy to See Me?”

Posted on January 3, 2013 by sglaser

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. I’m here with my dad and a python who was getting a little too friendly at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre. For some reason, it chose my crotch and the top of my thigh as a secure anchor for its wanderings.

From the look on my face, you may think I was enjoying this a bit more than necessary. Actually, I had a lot of nervous energy going…especially since the snake decided to live up to its cousin’s name and become a boa around my neck.