Pure Joy

This is the reaction I got from Frankie when asked the question "Do you want a fruit rollup?"

Now, I consider myself a happy person and I have an infinite amount of joy when I think about how lucky I am to have such amazing and beautiful family and friends.  But, I do not remember the last time I expressed that joy as wholeheartedly and unadulterated as this. 

So, at least today, I am going to try it. Join me and say to hell with being an adult and conserved and let others truly know how happy you are about something... especially how happy you are to see them. I am sure it will bring a smile to their face. Have a great day everyone!

Spiritual

I would not call myself a religious person. I have a hard time with organized religion, following every letter of holy texts, and coping with the zealots who (mis)interpret their religion according to their own whims to damn others. Please do not get me wrong, I am not against religion. There are many beautiful messages in all religions and many beautiful people who believe in them and follow their beliefs. I respect them and am inspired by them. 

I do believe at the core of most religions there is a spiritual message that is simply "be a good person" or to use a quote from the Dalai Lama "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." This is the message I believe in and choose to live by.

Peace to all and have a fantastic week.

Painted

Some people like tattoos. Some people don't like tattoos. 

Some people ask why I have tattoos and it is always a hard question to answer. It seems very surface to paint one's body... as if you weren't happy with what God gave you or you are trying to make yourself into a billboard or trying to be cool.  I guess some of that is probably true.  I am drawn to other people with tattoos and I often say those people are cool.  But not because they have tattoos.

The reason for tattoos is something deeper.  To others, it says I don't need to be accepted by you.  To me, it reminds me everyday of what I value, what I love, and who I am.  It represents my individualism in a world that doesn't always treat the individual kind...where the mob rules.  

In that world, I will take the underdogs... the people who don't live by all the rules, those who may be a little messed up by life, those who don't take the corporate jobs, those who are not afraid to use their voice and actions, those who are not content to just fit in, those who and kind and wear themselves on their sleeves.  

Okay, not the greatest explanation but you know what who cares. I guess I am just one of those people that like tattoos.

Three Monkeys

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.  Playing around with multiplicity but there can only really be one Frankie. She had a great time with this little photo shoot. Lots of good outtakes.

Pick your Poison

There was a going away party for a friend and coworker today at our local drinking establishment, Brickhouse.  This is a HDR combined with an Orton Effect. Pick your poison.

Ice Cream Man?

I wandered down to 16th and Mission in SF at lunch to take pictures. Even during the day there is some seedy stuff going on there and I don't recommend taking pics. On one shot, I didn't notice a drug deal going down in the background and was questioned by a very large man if I was taking pictures of him. I answered with "What the fuck would I want a picture of you for".  Acting tough can sometimes get you out of stuff and it worked this time, luckily. The pic was crap anyway and I deleted it.  Anyway, this ice cream guy didn't seem too threatening but I am not totally sure if there is actually ice cream in there... especially after seeing "The Wackness". 

Almost a Teen

It's hard to believe that Hannah is going to be a teenager in less than 2 weeks. I was just looking at pics from only a few years ago and it is crazy how much she has grown in that short amount of time. We keeping telling her not to grow up so fast but she is not listening. 

dying is fine)but Death

dying is fine)but Death

?o

baby

i

wouldn't like

Death if Death

were

good:for

when(instead of stopping to think)you

begin to feel of it,dying

's miraculous

why?be

cause dying is

perfectly natural;perfectly

putting

it mildly lively(but

Death

is strictly

scientific

& artificial &

evil & legal)

we thank thee

god

almighty for dying

(forgive us,o life!the sin of Death

- e.e. cummings

Very Very Brave

Frankie is getting more adventurous every day. She went super high in the swing today and actually enjoyed it. The whole time saying, "I'm very very brave."

Back Tattoo

SS Gem State

This one is for you Robert. The SS Gem State is one of Military Sealift Command's six crane ships. It is currently located in Alameda, CA.

Little Devil

Stars and Stripes

A Smile, Some Stripes, and a White Picket Fence

I tried a cross processing technique to make this look like an old photo from the 70's or 80's.

Abandoned Navy Building

Got a tip from a Flickr friend on a great abandoned Navy building in a less traveled area of Alameda. Little spooky even when it was light out. Will have to take someone back for night shots or trying to bust in for some inside shots.

Dark Glasses

Bill needed a dollar more to pay for his overnight stay at a flophouse. I had a dollar. I hope that is what he actually used it for and I hope that he is warm tonight.

SF Stay (HDR)

This weekend we stayed in a beautiful suite on the 30th floor in a hotel in San Francisco. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the hotel to get the tall buildings in SF but the view was awesome regardless. 

Cross

Twinkle Twinkle Little Dandelion

Self

Sorry but you get another self portrait today.

Brickhouse Cafe (HDR)

My first attempt at HDR. I need to find better subject matter to try some more. Not to mean that the Brickhouse Cafe, our favorite after work watering hole, is not a good subject but rather something with a bit more color and contrast to really show off what HDR can do and practice my skills.

Pony Day!

Frankie has been waiting for Pony Day at her school for 2 weeks now. Well, the big day was today and she followed through on her boasting that she would actually get on the pony this time. Unfortunately, I couldn't take photos of the big moment because the photographer thought I wouldn't then buy the photo package from him. Oh well, I did get the moment of anticipation before the big event...including the outfit.

Petalless magnolia

Our magnolia tree is beautiful. Unfortunately, the flowers only stay for about a month then we have to wait another year for its' beauty to return.

The Road Not Taken

Every day Frankie's individualism becomes stronger and more evident. It is with both joy and sorrow that I witness this.  Today, she set out on this little path by herself and it reminded me of Frost's "The Road Not Taken". I hope she continues on it... but not yet... it's too soon.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Wires and rooftop

This photo from our backyard is not the most exciting photo but the wires have been nagging me to take their pic for awhile now and the sky was beautiful before dusk last night.

Old barrel by an old wall

I was wandering around the area by Rosenblum Cellars Winery (www.rosenblumcellars.com) in Alameda and saw an old wine barrel sitting next to an even older wall.

Not so flattering self portrait

Put the needle on the record!

Kind of proud of our LP collection and setup. That needle sure is pretty.

Meditation

My new yogi.

Evil Knievel jumping ding dongs in the sky

Description really says it all. A little delirious from work today.

Tired of Time Out?

Frankie was looking to "take a new approach" to time-outs this morning.