When in Napa

Mom and I went to Napa awhile back. What a beautiful place. I love being among all the rolling hills and rows of vines. Being in the wine country makes you really appreciate all the hard work and beauty that has gone into a bottle of wine. It also makes you want to move out there and start a winery (my never ending dream).

Well, one evening, after mom and I had done all the wine tasting we could handle we went into one of the towns, I think Calistoga, to find a nice restaurant for the evening. After dinner as the sun was starting to go down and we were headed back to the main road we spotted this "home-grown" winery. Wineries are everywhere in the valley, big and very small. The small ones are very humble looking. Well we stopped at this one because the vines were pretty and I snapped away. I love the one point perspective of the vines trailing off into the distance.

Once we got home I decided this photo called for a sepia tone; I think it helps the photo express the character of the wine country.

Fasten seat belt while seated

I have done a fair amount of traveling lately to Birmingham, Alabama for work. What a great city, really it is. And the plane ride there is relatively short. As you might expect, this is the typical view on the ride there (unless you get a window seat, of course.) I find it amusing that these seats have been the same for as long as I can remember. They have always proudly announced to you all flight long to "fasten seat belt while seated." There's nothing like being told what to do by a chair, a chair on a dirty plane at that!

Cheers to flying coach!

Starting a journey

This photo is from Costa Rica. Several times while in Arenal we saw this little fellow riding his horse up and down the main road. Very calmly he would coast up the road on his daily journey somewhere. He seemed to know where he was going, at least from our perspective. He didn't rush, he knew he would get there in good time. I don't know if you can see it, but the back of his t-shirt says "lost". I bit of irony there I think.

I love journeys. All journeys, big and small. But, what I really love about some of life's grander journeys is they start with fire and determination, are fulfilled with strength and discipline and finish with accomplishment and reflection. Journeys aren't always clear either, sometimes we have to find our way through them. I think a fortune cookie I got yesterday said it best, "You don't have to know where you are going to be headed in the right direction."

The exploration may very well be the best part of the journey. You're never lost. Just en route.

Zumi, the plant

I name my plants. I take better care of them that way. It helps my brown thumb care just a little better for them when they have been personified. This guys name is Zumi, always has been, I think because his plant name is something along those lines. Don't ask me, I don't remember. I just remember his name is Zumi. I've probably had Zumi for a couple years now. Maybe closer to three years. He's very resillient. I water him every now and then and he just keeps living on. In fact, when I went to Seattle for the summer, on the way out of College Station I watered him till he was swimming and said, good luck buddy. (I know, you all think I'm a horrible plant mother, but I believed he could do it). So after three months I came back and Zumi was looking strong. Thirsty, but strong.

This is Zumi in my new apartment in Dallas. He looks good there, particularly in front of the light brown drapes. They suit him.

I've been iphoned

My life has changed. It is amazing. The iphone is pure wonderfulness. I have internet at the touch of a finger, all of my email accounts instantly accessible, all my photos, and my music in my pocket at all times. And get this, I can rent movies to my iphone. This is particularly awesome for plane rides. The last few trips to Birmingham I have been ridiculously bored on the airplane. Skymall and American Way can only entertain you so much.

Apple, I think you've done it, I'm a believer.

Counter Weight

Here's more from the office stairwell. This is the old elevator car's counter weight. Those weights are probably 5 feet wide or so. Quite substantial. I really enjoy the brick in-fill wall behind as well. I dream for the day I have a home where I have old exposed brick walls. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll have a elevator shaft stairwell too.

Sometime soon I'd like to start drawing my house, as it is in my mind that is. Although my ideas for it are continually growing. Particularly when I find architectural elements like this that expand my thoughts on what I'd like. I ought to put them on paper and record the progression.

Who knew a counter weight could be so inspirational?

Jukebox shopping

I went rug shopping a while back with my friend Preston. In fact I even posted a photo of him and his chosen rug right after we went. Well, while we were there I also took this one, which I really enjoy. It reminds me of a jukebox the way the rugs hang and flip on the racks.

Isn't it always a little bit more fun to shop when the items you are shopping for hang from flipping racks? Remember looking at posters when you were little at Target or Walmart? You'd flip away at the posters, possibly not even looking at them, just having fun swinging the racks. So, it seems to me that rug racks are the adult form of poster racks.

Cheers to jukebox shopping.