Coloured Lights

6 September 2007
What a day. What a very, very long - yet fulfilling - day. The four of us, Lou, Terrill, Eric & myself spent the entire day in work, debug, work some more mode. It was quite fulfilling and proved the validity of the trip. However, by the end of the day, I was completely knackered. Lou took us to a place called Carasello for fairly decent, if expensive, Italian food. Then it was back to the hotel for some late night comeraderie and expensive drinks. Then it was to bed for another early morning the next day. And nary a photo in the entire proceedings. So, we have this lovely photo of the parking lot lights through a filthy (!!) window.

Hooray.
Cheers.

~KR (6 September 2007)

Listening to:
Winner Take All by Styx
on Come Sail Away: The Styx Anthology

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: CANON, PHOTOBLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY, LIGHTS, HOTEL, WINDOW, NEW+YORK, JAMAICA, STYX

Maggie May's

5 September 2007
The day started well enough, went rapidly downhill and then levelled out. It started raining in the morning then I got a call requiring an emergency side-trip before getting on my flight to LGA. No resolution was generated by my side trip, sadly, but there's a certain satisfaction in knowing that I've done everything right. Now, I just need to follow up and ensure that the parties that can fix the problem do fix the problem. The flight was uneventful, and after a quick seat-shuffle, not even too uncomfortable. We (Eric, Terrill & myself) arrived at La Guardia airport where Lou picked us up. We then high-tailed (actually not so much with the high-tailing, the traffic was horrendous!) it to Flushing for dinner & drinks.

This is Maggie May's. An unassuming, but lovely pub with one of the most delightful barmaids I've seen in quite some time. Dawn (that was her name) was very witty and very on-the-spot. She even knew how to draw a good pint of Guinness! Anyway, the four of us finished up some hardware tinkering we had to do while we had our drinks. Then off to Bourbon Street for dinner. Bourbon Street is a N'awlins influenced restaurant across from Margaritas. I could have spent hours and hours and hours up & down the streets here. It reminded me of Nob Hill in Portland. The business trip was just starting.
Cheers.

~KR (5 September 2007)

Listening to:
Man on the Moon by R.E.M.
on Automatic For The People

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 8.1 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: FLUSHING, MAGGIE+MAY'S, CANON, PHOTBLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTO, R.E.M.

Abandoned Buggy

4 September 2007
It's Monday, September 10th and I'm just getting to photos taken on September 4th. The woes of a busy work schedule. The worst part about posting nearly a week after the photo was taken is that by that time I've lost the emotion that sparked the photo in the first place. I'm sure that this photo sparked some sort of righteous outrage in me. But, I can't recall exactly.

I would imagine that I felt appalled at the state of our society. That I was angry at the volume of trash caught in the wheels. That perhaps I was even covertly thinking about how to get that shopping cart out of the drainage ditch and into my smallish car. Really, who hasn't wanted a shopping cart at one point or another. But today, six days later, I can't tell you a thing about what I was thinking.
Cheers.

~KR (4 September 2007)

Listening to:
Hungry Eyes by Merle Haggard
on Down Every Road - Disk 2

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 19.1 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: CANON, PHOTOBLOG, PHOTO, SHOPPING+CART, MERLE+HAGGARD

Stacked

3 September 2007 Labor Day, despite it's name is a lazy day. So, lazy I was. I went to the movies (saw Death Sentence), I went to No Frill's Grill then I went back home. Between NFG and home, I pulled into a small construction zone (they're everywhere right now) and took a photo of a veritable mountain of metal things. I didn't really care for the composition on the first photo, so I took a close-up of the mountain:

I liked this one much better. I wish every day was Labor Day.
Cheers.

~KR (3 September 2007)

Listening to:
Long Day by Matchbox Twenty
on Real World

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 34.7 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: METAL, MATCHBOX+TWENTY, STACK, PHOTOBLOG, CONSTRUCTION, CLOSE-UP, CANON

Up a Tree

2 September 2007 Sunday. More errands to run, this time to Office Depot and various other office/work-related places. In the parking lot of Office Depot, they have these really beautiful trees. I'm not an arborologist or botanist or anything that would even remotely resemble someone who studies or works with trees or plants of any kind. But, I sure can appreciate their beauty. I took several photos, from various angles, I like the way this one turned out best:

I have no idea what type of tree (tall bush) it is, but it shor-nuff is purty.
Cheers.

~KR (2 September 2007)

Listening to:
Stinkfist by Tool
on Ænima

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 29.9 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: TREE, CLOSE-UP, TOOL, OFFICE+DEPOT, ERRANDS, PHOTOBLOG, CANON, PHOTO

Insignificant (or not)

1 September 2007 Saturday. Despite the fact that Saturday's are made for football, I got precious little footy in myself. First, I was awoken at god:16 in the morning with an Operational issue. My boss was soon to be headed south for the University of Texas opening day game, so I certainly wasn't going to ask him to help. He needed his sleep for the drive. So, work it was. I put in nearly a full day, then took a nap before getting some necessary errand-running done. After my nap I did go run some errands, stopping on the way to take this photo of a (assignment time) rather insignificant object.

Insignificant and ignored by most, the porta-loo (porta-potty, privy, porta-john) is by no means insignificant when needed. I enjoyed the dichotomy, if not the subject. Finding photos of the insignificant is much more difficult than I first thought.
Cheers.

~KR (1 September 2007)

Listening to:
A Tribute to Peador O'Donnell by Alison Krauss & Union Station
on Live (Disc 2)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 58 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Alison+Krauss, Union+Station, Insignificant, Privy, Loo, Construction+Site, Photo, Photography, Photoblog, Canon

Shuffleboard

29 August 2007
A better day at work, if only a little. However, it did wrap up nicely. A batch of co-workers, as stressed as myself, and I went to Rob's Billiards for some pool & beer. That's always great fun, but this time was a bit special; my friend Joseph, down from Wisconsin for a useability seminar (or some such), joined us for beer. He didn't play pool with us, but when we switched to shuffleboard, the man stepped right up. He and I knocked our competition for a right loop.

Cheers.

~KR (29 August 2007)

Listening to:
As Long As It Matters by Gin Blossoms
on Congratulations I'm Sorry

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG, PHOTO, SHUFFLEBOARD, GIN+BLOSSOMS, GAMES, BILLIARDS, ROB'S

If Found Please Drop in any Mailbox

28 August 2007
Today is the day that everything went pear-shaped for me when it was instead supposed to be a lovely purple patch. The way it started and the way it progressed I figured I was in for a long day of living hell. It turns out that the pear-shape didn't last too long and returned to normal in the early afternoon. A little hiccough in the evening, but everything played out ok in the end. But, because it had started so weird and rocky, I took a photo early and never really went back to revisit it. So, although it's not terribly texturous, it is an interesting jumble.

Cheers.

~KR (28 August 2007)

Listening to:
Bully by Steve Winwood
on About Time

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: BLACK+AND+WHITE, DEPTH+OF+FIELD, BOKEH, KEYS, DOF, PHOTOBLOG, PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTO, STEVE+WINWOOD

Bungee with Garbage

27 August 2007
Still working on the Texture assignment, sort of. So, that's what this photo is:

This is a bungee cord attached to the side of a large trailer that was completely full of trash. Refuse. Garbage. Rubbish. It was an amazing, if disgusting, sight to see. I suppose I should just be glad that all that trash was constrained by this sequence of bungee cords and grates rather than scattered about the ground.
Cheers.

~KR (27 August 2007)

Listening to:
Panama by Van Halen
on 1984

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 58 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG, PHOTO, TRASH, VAN+HALEN, GARBAGE, BUNGEE

Up a Tree

23 August 2007
This day was done. I was done. Completely shattered and not wishing much in the way of company. I was nearly relieved when Terrill decided not to join me at the bar (that doens't happen very frequently). With no company, I decided to go home and spend a quiet evening at the house. I pulled into the driveway, got out of my little Mitshubishi and walked to this massive Black Oak that resides in my front yard. I placed the camera against the bark and shot upward not even bothering to compose. I took four shots that way, moving the camera a little each time to achieve a different view. I like this one:

It sort of composed itself with the ivy moving to a vanishing point that exists at about the spot that the overhead branches diverge. I might very well have even composed the shot that way. On the left hand side there is a fuzzy little blur. That is a web-worm, or tent-caterpillar, or whatever you call those vile little parasites. I killed it.
Cheers.

~KR (23 August 2007)

Listening to:
Coverville-051018 by Brian Ibbott

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG, OAK, TREE, NATURE, PHOTO, TEXAS, COVERVILLE

The Tap-In

22 August 2007
How very little time it takes to get back to the common, the familiar, the mundane. I've only been home one day, yet after work, because there's no one to go home to (dogs only slightly count on that front), I went to a bar with Terrill. I do this frequently for several reasons. I love the way it affords me an opportunity to wind down after yet another stressful day at work. i enjoy Terrill's (and whoever else shows up) company. I like beer.

This is the Tap-In. It's in Grapevine. Not my normal stomping grounds, but Terrill had a meeting up North in the Grapevine/Southlake area and I went up there. It caused me no pain, and the Tap-In is a nice enough joint. I would prefer it much more if the cigars they sell next door weren't allowed to be smoked. But, hey it's a bar, right? Although rumour has it that Grapevine is about to go smoke-free. Maybe Ft. Worth would grow some balls and follow suit since they seem incapable of leading the way.
Cheers.

~KR (22 August 2007)

Listening to:
Chickenman by Indigo Girls
on Rites Of Passage

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 58 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG, TAP-IN, GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, INDIGO+GIRLS, PHOTO, JOURNAL

The Stack

21 August 2007
Tuesday, and I'm home. What a wonderful last few days this was. One of the best trips I think I've ever had to Wisconsin. Weather was great (I love the rain, thank you very much), many good times and laughs were had and shared. Could it have been more grand? The only sad part is that there now exists some 2000+ miles between my family & friends in Wisconsin and myself. That, and this stack of mail!

That's four days worth of crap that filled my mailbox. A handful of bills, some Netflix videos, a few magazines & catalogues, but the majority of it will end up in recycling in the very near future. It's so very, very wasteful. But, I have my dogs back (thanks again, Ron & Family) and that pleases me. So, I'll continue on my merry way here in Texas while some of my dearest friends, and my wife, continue to enjoy their lifes & lifestyles in Wisconsin.
Cheers.

~KR (21 August 2007)

Listening to:
There You'll Be by Faith Hill
on Pearl Harbor Soundtrack

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.8 sec (4/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: MAIL, USPS, VACATION, JUNK+MAIL

The Window

20 August 2007 How could we possibly top yesterday's events? We tried. It was a late start to the day and when we finally did get moving, I was pretty famished. My only criteria was "someplace I've not been." So, off we went for some, fairly decent, Tex-Mex at El Sarape in Kenosha. We were joined for sustenance by Shannon, Kelly & Joseph. A short shopping trip and a little bit of driving later, we found ourselves pretty near our ultimate destination for the day. Since we were a little early, we stopped by this German-looking...and named, placed, Gerhard's. We were the only two in the restaurant so had the full attention of the bar-tender. Marita Beth was kind of beer'ed out, but I can almost always be talked into one. I had a delightful season brew from Berghoff's and took this photo of the stained glass in the bar area.
I hope to return there some day for dinner (the menu looked very inviting). From Gerhard's we made our way a few blocks to Chad's house for a house-warming party that was, once again, great fun and filled with fine food & friends. A batch of noshes & a gallery reading later, and we were both shattered and ready to head home, sadly. Tomorrow, I head home.
Cheers.

~KR (20 August 2007)

Listening to:
Cinderella Search by Marillion
on Kayleigh

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 30.7 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, GERHARD'S, STAINED+GLASS, FLOWER, WINDOW

What a Day

19 August 2007 What a day. For the first time since Bristol Faire became Bristol Faire, it did not open on a day it was supposed to open. The rain was soft and gentle and sporadic most of Saturday until about 8pm. The skies opened. It rained hard and harder and then hard again until about 8am. That 12 hours and nearly 7" of rain prompted a difficult decision -- to not open. It was primarily for the safety of the patrons that this decision was made, and I for one, applaud the choice. But, you know what this meant? Exploration day! We had been meaning to go to Kenosha on Monday, but presented with this opportunity how could we not take advantage. So, into town we went in search of what had been described to me as, "the best hamburger you'll ever have." The description wasn't far off. Spanky's truly has one of the best burgers I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The joint itself wasn't too bad, either. I could spend time there. From there, we went out to the shore of Lake Michigan and took many photos of rocks and water spray and waves and lighthouses and each other. Much fun. Then, we joined Kat & Sean and Amber for a few more beers and made hystericals over my lack of hearing ("Don't Make Me Fuck a Latte, No!"). The day was starting to get a little long in the tooth and we were still in Kenosha, we'd made plans for dinner with Joseph and Kelly (even having so recently seen them for lunch at Spankys - we really do love those two). So, we trundled through the rain and floody places toward Racine on the WI32. Suddenly a loud "ohhh, I want a picture of that!" spun my head, but not in time. I turned around and drove into the parking area of Carthage University to get a photo of this Red Bridge that Marita Beth had espied from the 32. I had to escape the car in order to get a photo, but being in sandles I didn't wish to walk too far in the wet, muddy grass. Nonetheless, I think the photo is quite nice in and of itself, even without the surrounding narrative.

And still, the day wasn't over. We picked up J & K and headed to the Carlton Grange in Milwaukee for a delightful meal. That's a place I could easily spend too much time and money in. Quite late in the evening, Marita Beth and I returned home to her abode sated, happy and in love.
Cheers.

~KR (19 August 2007)

Listening to:
Lullaby by On the Rocks
on OTR

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Carthage, Bridge, Racine, Wisconsin, Cloudy, Storm, Rain, Kenosha

Through the Screen

18 August 2007 Some would call Marita Beth's life glamorous, or full of adventure. Some are even jealous of her travelling schedule. I think if those folk knew the truth, they might think otherwise. Certainly there are aspects of her life that are to be envied or emulated. But, when you recall the specifics of her living arrangements, perhaps it's not so grand.
This photo is taken from inside her living quarters. It spans across the catwalk that she must traverse every time she wishes to leave her space; the photo continues on to look over the roof that she must walk on to get to the stairs; there we get a view of the rail that prevents her from falling off the roof in the middle of the night. The photo is taken through the screen, which causes a little bit of fuzziness to the photo and a cool star-pattern from the lights, but ultimately is there to keep out the dog-sized mosquitos that litter the air. Yes, there is much to admire about Marita Beth and her lifestyle, but at times, I don't envy it so much. All I can say is that I miss her terribly when she's gone.
Cheers.

~KR (18 August 2007)

Listening to:
Post Script by Gary Burton & Chick Corea
on Native Sense

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.3 sec (3/10)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 21.3 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Bristol, Renaissance, Faire