The post-forest

So it's normal to personalize your desk at work. Typically you see some photographs and maybe some momentos, but not often do you see a post-forest. Chris Culley, who sits next to me at work, grew a post-forest at his desk. So, what's a post forest? Well, you are looking at it. Those "posts" are the little guys that you usually punch through documents in order to bind them. Personally I think the post-forest is a much better use than binding paper. As you might suspect, Chris is a hoot, and it doesn't take long to notice his creative genius. RISD would be lucky to have you, pal.

Oh and the rubber ducky. If I had to guess I'd say he's the forest's keeper. After all, someone has to watch after the forest.

Lone leaf

I have always enjoyed this leaf. I looked down one day and there he was, laying straddled between the two boards. I wondered to myself, how he got there like that, and why he was the only one around. He must have just been taking a break. To me he looked like an older leaf, a very wise leaf, a leaf comfortable in his own company. A leaf with many great stories. He was scarred and broken, yet sturdy. He left his tree awhile back and ventured on his own and made his stories. You can tell he was a go-getter. He realized that life doesn't happen to you, you go out there and get it. No one will do it for you. You can bet he was a tough cookie. I'm sure he has a good war story for the piece he's missing on his right side. But, you can tell, he's happy. Older. More tired. But, happy. Enjoying what his life was and is. Happy with himself and the life he had made.

Big D backyard

This is the view from my new balcony. Now I wish I could say this was the straight-on view, but it's not. This is the view when you look off to the right. You can see most of downtown, including a sliver of Fountain Place (which is my favorite I.M. Pei building). Last night was the first night I'd actually gone out on the balcony to enjoy the skyline. Mara and Regina came over for a glass of wine, and we took in the view and talked a little architecture, naturally.

But, the view comes with a price. So, tomorrow I start work so I can pay to live!

Welcome to the jungle

While in Costa Rica we visited the rainforest (or the jungle*, if you want to call it that). It was amazing. We didn't exactly go trapzing through the jungle as one might imagine; there was a trail there that made hiking through it a bit more managable. This trail actually led us to the La Fortuna waterfall. I'm not sure, but I think "la fortuna" means fortune in spanish, which makes perfect sense, seeing as this area of Costa Rica has a gorgeous rainforest, an awesome waterfall and a volcano. I'd say that's some good natural fortune (minus the eruptions every 30 years or so).

I enjoy this photograph for two reasons. First, you really get a sense for how emmersed we were in the ecology, even being on the trail. The rainforest was truly awe-inspiring, on all scales. What's also great about this one is it catches Andrea being very "her". As I've said before, when it comes to portraits I enjoy catching people in "raw form", just as they would be if a camera wasn't around. Andrea knows more about nature and cherishes it more than anyone I know. Often when she is talking about a plant or what not, she touches it while she tries to remember its name or while she thinks about it. So, this one captured her in raw form for sure. One of my favorites from the trip.

*According to wikipedia (the internet's #1 source of possibly correct knowledge) a tropical rainforest is also known as a jungle.

Summer snow

Where I come from, the first sign of summer is the opening of the snow cone stand. Last night I could feel the snow cone weather. I hopped in the car and headed for my first snow cone of 2008. Strawberry ofcourse (sugar-free with splenda to be specific). It was everything I hoped it would be.

Things got interesting at the stand though. I took my camera with me, like a good amateur photographer. While I was eating my snow cone I took some photos of the stand and my snow cone, just enjoying the evening. Well, I think I made the teenagers running the stand nervous. They called their boss, the owner. This girl runs out to me, while on the phone, and says, "I have the owner on the phone, is there anything we can help you with?" I was like, "Excuse me?" and she said, "Well, you are taking photos and we thought you were competition or something." I laughed and said, "No, I'm just an amateur photographer having fun." I could see how nervous she was, so I cooled down my shooting and just enjoyed my snow cone after that.

I don't blame them for being nervous about me, snow cones are big business in Carrollton. There are two things Carrollton has plenty of: churches and snow cone stands. Which I suppose if you are going to have too much of anything, those would be it!

So, this photograph isn't the best I've ever done, but the story I couldn't pass up sharing. And, if you want to start a snow cone stand, call me, I've done the research!

Camera phone sky

I'm driving around town tonight at about 6PM. The road was congested as you would expect it to be at that time. So, I just roll my windows down and play my new Bob Seger Greatest Hits CD. I'm generally just trying to enjoy the ride. I look up from all the traffic and I see the most wonderful sky. Clouds are covering up the sun and the rays are beaming from around the edges. It was spectacular.

I thought to myself, man, I wish I had my camera on me. Then I thought, I do! My phone! So I whip it out and shoot this shot real fast. The camera phone did a pretty good job capturing the moment, but in person it was unreal! Which is a good thing to remember, no matter how hard you try when you are behind the lens, its always better in the moment!

Remembering

Happy Memorial Day. I remember when I was a kid dad would always go out and hang our flag on Memorial Day. I was truly proud to be American when I'd see that flag hanging in front of our house. Today's constant political bickering makes is difficult to remember how lucky we are here in the United States to have people who defend what we stand for. So, thank goodness for Memorial Day. And, thank God for our men and women.

This photograph is taken at the "front steps" of Texas A&M. I took it on a Tuesday. Tuesdays are occasionally special at A&M. Silver Taps takes place on one Tuesday every month. It is a chance to remember any fellow Ags who passed away in the past month. I remember the feeling I would get when I would drive up New Main and see the flags at half mast. It was a bit of sadness, because it meant one of my fellow Aggies had passed away, but it was also a bit of joy that my university made the effort to remember them.

Always remember.