A PHOTO A DAY

Still taking pics but posting on Flickr

2009-07-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hello, is there anyone out there?
So, I have decided to stop double posting and just post to my Flickr account. Some of the descriptions did not make sense and it was just extra work that i don't have time for to change and post to this blog.
Flickr is cool. Join me at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdaddyk/

Plug me in

2009-07-06T00:14:00.001-07:00

School's out for summer

2009-07-06T00:13:00.001-07:00

Rear window

2009-07-04T00:25:00.001-07:00

Bat fight

2009-07-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

Ace

2009-07-01T20:36:00.001-07:00

Smoking not advised

2009-06-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

Another crazy and stupid self portrait. I swear this 365 is definitely making me not afraid to make a fool out of myself. Guess that is a good thing.

Apocalypse

2009-06-29T20:50:00.001-07:00

I have had this idea for awhile and finally got the gas mask. The hardest part was making Frankie stop pretending that she was an elephant. Frickin' funny. Pretty sure i like this one better but included futuristic Apocalypse version in the comments.

Through the Tunnel

2009-06-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

I went to the Oakland Zoo with the kids today.

Frankie had a blockbuster day in accomplishments.

It was the first time we went there without the stroller. She walked everywhere the whole time we were there.

We went on her first sky lift ride...30 feet over the zoo and she loved every minute of it waving at everyone that we passed and telling the animals below that we would be back to see them later.

She went on her first roller coaster and yelled "Wheeeeee" the entire ride. It was a little tiger one and wasn't very fast but to her it was the greatest ride ever.

She went on the merry-go-round on her own animal by herself. She waved as she went by every time saying "Daddy. Look at me. I am on the merry-go-round"

It is such joy to be able to witness each of these little accomplishments and to recognize and remember them. What she was wearing, what she said, the look on her face. There is nothing i would have rather done today. I always feel so present in the moment with her because it is too easy to miss these things that will never happen again. She will do all of these things a hundred times in her life but it will never again will it be the first. And I was there.

ROCK ON!

2009-06-27T08:35:00.001-07:00

I am taking 4 teenagers to the Vans Warped Tour today. Something like 60 bands on 3 stages from 11AM - 10PM. Excited about Bad Religion, NOFX, The Dickies, FEAR, and a few others but most of the bands are this shitty new punk. What do these kids know about punk. I saw this tour 15 years ago before they were even born. Gonna be a long fucking day. I am too old for this shit. :-)

My wife is a badass

2009-06-26T22:13:00.001-07:00

I still remember the first time that we kissed. Everything stopped for a few seconds then the world started spinning really fast around us but we weren't moving. It was like she and I were the only people existed and the world was spinning around us. I remember telling everyone that what i felt for her was "cosmic". I knew i sounded stupid but it was the only thing i could think of describe it. I still feel that way about her. She is my everything and I love her more than words can ever describe....it's "cosmic".

Got any cherries up in here?

2009-06-25T20:45:00.001-07:00

So, Frankie is a big cherry fan. She eats them then makes this exaggerated spitting thing when spitting out the seeds into the bowl like it was a spittoon or something. Messy as heck as well.

Funny story behind the title. I went to the corner liquor store last Thanksgiving to get some...well liquor..cause that's what they sell.

Some white teenage kid all gangsta with his pants sagging and sticker still on his stupid hat turned sideways walks (wobbles) in and yells out to the guy behind the counter, "Got any cherries up in here?" I die laughing, tell the family, and know we use the line all the time...even when it makes no sense at all. Kind of an inside joke but feel free to use the line. People will laugh.

Good Morning Sunshine

2009-06-24T07:56:00.001-07:00

I wanna hold your hand

2009-06-23T19:49:00.001-07:00

Wigalicious

2009-06-22T21:26:00.001-07:00

Had a Dad

2009-06-21T16:01:00.001-07:00

So, I have been looking at everyone else's tributes to their dads. They are so sweet and I love them. But I am filled with a bit of jealously as well because my dad sucks.

I truly appreciate his participation in giving me life but that is about it. Wait...I do appreciate one more thing...showing me exactly what kind of person NOT to be.

This is the man that beat my mom, sister, and myself....sometimes for no reason as all. And if it wasn't physical abuse it was verbal. Like when my mom asked what he would like from the store he would say things like "A blonde...about 6 feet tall." He would tell my sister several times that "she was a mistake." He gave me an ulcer by the time i was 12. We needed a police escort to get out of the house when my mom divorced him around that same time.

This is the man who told me when I was 13 that it would only take $5000 to hire someone to kill my mom. That was the cost in 1983 so I am sure it has increased since then.

This is the man that would make me sit in the car after catching 7 innings in 90 degree weather so he could flirt with the other players moms.

This is the man from whom I learned every racial and sexual slur known to man from. The last time we saw him we took Hannah skating and he told her that the Mexicans were eyeing the rims on the zamboni.

The last time I spoke to him was 2 years ago on Father's day when he called me to ask me for $3000. I have not spoke to him since and don't plan on it. I don't even think of him daily but I did today for obvious reasons and I apologize for the downer and the rant but it is good to get it out. There is so much more I am not even going to get into.

He is the most depressing, sad, and evil person I know. I have tried by entire life to be the exact opposite of everything that he is. I know I love my children and let them know that. I know they will never feel about me the way that i feel about him. I know that i have fucked up things and will do it again but that I will always apologize and raise them to be amazing, confident, and strong people. I know they will never be abused. I know they will never hear slurs from me. I know that I will not be him.

So, for all the good fathers out there...Happy Father's day. To my dad and all the other crappy dads out there...well, FUCK YOU!

Now, I am going to go spend some quality time with my kids.

Chuck Norris IS afraid...

2009-06-20T14:22:00.001-07:00

of Frankie

Happy Friday

2009-06-19T17:56:00.001-07:00

Just messing around. I am actually in a good mood. Seeing PJ Harvey tonight. Yay!

Light Angel

2009-06-18T20:20:00.001-07:00

Frankie had a blast with this photo shoot.

Religion

2009-06-18T19:01:00.001-07:00

Little Model

2009-06-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

Frankie might be getting too much camera time. This is what I got today when I said let Daddy take a picture of you.

umm...

2009-06-15T22:20:00.001-07:00

Not really much to say about this one. Hello, creativity god...where have you been lately?

Dad, are you serious with this sunscreen?

2009-06-14T16:50:00.001-07:00

Bedtime

2009-06-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is Frankie's "I don't want to go to bed" face.

Big Head

2009-06-12T22:24:00.001-07:00

Umm...title kind of says it all.

Faces

2009-06-11T21:01:00.001-07:00

Playing around with long exposure.

Toe Luchador

2009-06-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Now available in Taco Bell Kid's meals...how cool is that?!?

Hannah on "View from the Bay"

2009-06-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hannah had her big appearance on "View from the Bay" today to support the book she is included in called "She's Out There". Available at Amazon.

She was composed, intelligent, and so cute. She did such an amazing job and we are so dang proud of her. Check out the video at http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/women_entrepreneurs&id=6856169

STRONG

2009-06-08T23:07:00.001-07:00

An essay that Hannah wrote is included in a new book available now titled "She's Out There: Essays by 35 Young Women Who Aspire to Lead the Nation". She is going to be on a afternoon talk show in the bay area called "View by the Bay" on Tuesday and has a book signing in Alameda on Thursday.

We couldn't be more proud of her.

I am extremely lucky to be married to the strongest woman I know and to help raise Hannah and Frankie to be strong women as well.

Frankie in Wonderland

2009-06-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

Another shot I really like from our day at Fairyland. Frankie ran through the rabbit hole until she saw these guys. She paused for only a moment then bravely moved forward to meet them. :-)

Snow White LOVE

2009-06-07T15:27:00.001-07:00

I took Frankie to Fairyland in Oakland today. She got super excited when she saw Snow White and her seven dwarfs. I told her to go say hi to Snow White. She went up to her and totally started to make out with her. I guess that is LOVE.

Stuck

2009-06-06T14:24:00.001-07:00

Frankie had a little bit of an issue putting her shirt on today.

ears.

2009-06-05T12:10:00.001-07:00

Room with a view to the destruction of Los Angeles

2009-06-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Life of the Party.

2009-06-04T13:27:00.001-07:00

Stoopid.

2009-06-04T13:26:00.001-07:00

Bored in the hotel room in LA.

Tired.

2009-06-01T07:44:00.001-07:00

Off to LA for E3. Will be taking shots but no way to upload. See ya all on Thursday.

Fun at the Beach

2009-05-31T17:26:00.001-07:00

It was a bit chilly and windy today but fun was still to had at the beach. Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. I am off to LA tomorrow for the Electronic Entertainment Expo. I will be taking pics but not sure if I will be able to upload. Have a great week.

Peek-a-boo

2009-05-30T18:29:00.001-07:00

Life Worth Livin'

2009-05-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

This song is sung for anyone that's listening
This song is for the broken-spirited man
This song is for anyone left standing
After the strain of a slow, sad end

It seems everybody wants what someone else has
There's sorrow enough for all
Just go in any bar and ask
With a beer in each hand and a smile in between
All around's a world grown mean

We've all had our ups and downs
It's been mostly down around here
Now this whole damn mess is becoming quite clear

Looks like we're all looking for a life worth livin'
That's why we drink ourselves to sleep
Yeah, we're all looking for a life worth livin'
That's why we pray for our souls to keep

There's nothing left now but broken pieces
Of one man's broken will to care
And in the end before all is said and done
How many others might follow him there?

"Life Worth Livin'" - Uncle Tupelo (If you haven't heard them...well, you should)

Good and Evil

2009-05-28T20:09:00.001-07:00

People are not either good or evil. The world is not either black or white. It is a beautiful murky gray.

People are complex. A person I may dislike may be loved by many others. He could be a jerk to others but a loving son to his mother. She may be very surface at the bar but thoughtful and intelligent in a different setting. I have very diverse friends. It is almost impossible to put them all together in a room without conflict. I try to find the good in each and accept the evil. I love them all for the complete person that they are.

I don't even get myself. I am a loving father, husband, and friend. I am a pacifist and vegetarian. I am spiritual. But, I know that I could kill if someone hurt my family. I know I can be short tempered. I know that I have hurt people with my words and actions.

I guess I am human. The sum of all these blacks and whites, goods and evils. Just like everyone else on earth. A beautiful and murky gray.

BADASS

2009-05-28T00:51:00.001-07:00

Starting a fan club for Frankie...complete with trading cards. Here is the first.

Family Silliness

2009-05-26T20:51:00.001-07:00

Three birds with one stone..ummm photo. For Flickr groups.

TOTW - The Many Faces of Me - Silly

FGR - It's Silly Day

=tHe VeNt= - Love and Lust - I love my family. They are my favorite people on Earth. I also love the fact that I did not have to ask twice for them to willingly take this picture.

Quick edit of this. Tried to make it look like one of those picture booths.

Don't F@&% with Me

2009-05-25T18:38:00.001-07:00

Flickr Theme of the Week is faces. I guess this is my don't fuck with me face.

Windy Beach Day

2009-05-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

It was a crappy windy day but we managed to get out and spend a little time at the beach.

Upside down champion baby

2009-05-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

Mom used a bowl to cut my hair

2009-05-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

Yep...that's me...say age 4 when mom used a bowl to cut my hair.

The cup is empty

2009-05-21T21:21:00.001-07:00

Blue Steel

2009-05-20T21:04:00.001-07:00

Frankie does the "Blue Steel" from Zoolander.

Ling Ling Returns!

2009-05-19T20:51:00.001-07:00

Ling Ling died in a Tokyo zoo in 2008... or so they thought!

But he has returned and he won't stop the killing until he has sought his revenge against the people that caged him for 22 years.

It's gonna be a bamboo BLOODFEST!

Sleep No More

2009-05-18T21:11:00.001-07:00

Flickr group "Theme of the Week" is horror movies. The only movies that really scare me have creepy kids in them. Frankie is not creepy and I feel bad for making her look creepy.

Summertime Hosedown

2009-05-17T16:22:00.001-07:00

Man, it's like 90 degrees in Alameda today. Bought a kiddie pool and the girls hosed each other down. This is probably one of my favorite pics of all time.

Too close

2009-05-17T10:42:00.001-07:00

Little too close on this close up.

You Looking at Me

2009-05-16T19:04:00.001-07:00

Down in a Hole, Losing My Soul

2009-05-14T20:47:00.001-07:00

Cheeto Dust

2009-05-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

Dominic and his new hat. He had red stuff on his color one day and we thought it was a girl's lipstick only to find out that it was the dust from Flamin' Hot Cheetos. So, now "Cheeto Dust" is his nickname.

Day 130 kind of

2009-05-12T22:55:00.001-07:00

So, I missed a few days. :-)

Wisdom

2009-05-09T18:17:00.001-07:00

On my right wrist I have the tattooed the words "Wisdom", "Compassion", and "Love". It is kind of a formula to me... Compassion for people + the Wisdom to know how to apply it = Love... or something like that.

A Hard Day's Life

2009-05-09T15:06:00.001-07:00

A copycat of The Beatles "A Hard Day's Life" album cover.

I did it like this. I did it like that. I did it with a wiffleball bat.

2009-05-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

Flicker Theme of the Week is one line lyrics. This one is from a Beastie Boys song.

Momma Said Knock You Out!

2009-05-06T20:55:00.001-07:00

Sharp Dressed Man

2009-05-05T20:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

BANG

2009-05-04T14:04:00.001-07:00

Sorry. Sick and in a lousy mood today.

Houndjacker

2009-05-03T19:01:00.001-07:00

I am kind of stuck on copying album covers. Lots of good photos and processing to learn from them and it is always great to get help some creative help. Today's copy is Eels "Souljacker". Not a well known classic but a damn good album anyway.

A Love Supreme

2009-05-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

Was trying to imitate Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" album cover while listening to it. This looks nothing like it but still has a bit of the essence of his beautiful music.

Her Hero

2009-05-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

Theme for the day was superheroes.

Well, I am NOT a superhero to most but in the eyes of Frankie I guess I do qualify. I have super strength to lift her up. I have x-ray vision to find things she is looking for. I can run way faster than her. I am a genius and can answer all her questions.

This will eventually fade a bit and I will be a mere mortal in her eyes as she grows older. It will be harder to lift her, she will be able to find the things that she wants, she will definitely run faster than my old ass, and I am guessing she will be smarter than me by the time she hits high school.

There is one area that I will always be a superhero to her though and that is the super love that I have for her and always will.

So, I guess that I am a superhero...at least in her eyes.

Jump Into The Fire

2009-04-30T20:29:00.001-07:00

You can climb a mountain
You can swim the sea
You can jump into the fire
But you'll never be free
You can shake me up
Or I can break you down
Whoa-o-o-o-, whoa-o-o-o-
We can make each other happy.

- "Jump Into The Fire" - Harry Nilsson

Little tribute to Nilsson Schmilsson just because he makes me happy.

Music = Life

2009-04-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

Question: If you were to be left with only one of your five senses which would it be?

My answer: Hearing!

Music has always been an incredibly important part of my life for as long as I can remember. The memories I remember most and best have accompanying sound tracks to them. My life is defined by my musical phases. I have over 1000 LP's and 500 GB of digital music. My only real requirement for friendship is that you have a passion for music. Doesn't have to be the same music I like but really just love some kind of music.

Music = Life. It's as simple as that.

Growing too fast

2009-04-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hannah is growing up way too fast but I guess there is really not a way to stop that.

Damnit! That hurts!

2009-04-27T18:47:00.001-07:00

Doing a theme of the week for a Flickr group. Theme is senses. Touching fire hurts and I took way too many takes to get this shot.

Spring is here!

2009-04-26T18:58:00.001-07:00

and the roses are in bloom!

Dreams of a child

2009-04-25T18:03:00.001-07:00

I don't know what Frankie was thinking about here. She may have been thinking of a new tactic to get candy, or the swings at the park, or the last episode of Dragon Tales that she watched, or how much her mommy and daddy love her. I hope as she continues to grow that her dreams are of what she wants to be and who she wants to love. My dream is to encourage these dreams and protect her from all the bad ones.

Never let Pandita be the Monopoly banker. He cheats!

2009-04-24T22:12:00.001-07:00

Above

2009-04-24T12:27:00.001-07:00

Ugh. I spent forever on this trying to get a certain look and still did not get what I wanted. I should have just tried to reshoot or come up with something different but I am too stubborn for this. Oh well, you get a sepia of me looking at the ceiling.

Fight with Ryan

2009-04-22T20:10:00.001-07:00

Another copycat of a Flickr friend who actually lives in Alameda. This dude is one crazy mofo. I am making up a whole story that we had a fight over unicorns of all things. Check out his shot here: www.flickr.com/photos/shiznotty/3340268803/in/photostream/ and check out the rest of his photostream if you dare...definitely rated R for strong language.

Tub

2009-04-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

This week in one of my flickr groups the theme of the week is copycats. Perfect for what I need right now. I just get to copy others creativity. Little less pressure to think of something but still fun to take the shot and process. He did it with a clown mask so his is a little creepier. You can check it out at www.flickr.com/photos/31417010@N02/3313406863/

Despair

2009-04-20T18:58:00.001-07:00

I don't know if this 365 project is even worth it at times. The pressure to come up with a shot every day that I feel good about is extremely difficult. I threaten to quit it every day but for some reason I still do it every day. I enjoy photography and I feel like I am getting better at both taking pictures and working with them in Photoshop. But some days it feels forced and becomes a burden. It is hard to be creative everyday, to find the time to do this. I feel like I am ignoring other responsibilities and especially my family. I am being selfish. I think that if I just take pics every couple of days and spend time with them that it would be better but I know myself and that time apart would become longer and longer and I would hate myself for eventually quitting. So, I will keep doing it for now...but who knows about tomorrow.

Inside a Redwood

2009-04-19T18:15:00.001-07:00

We went to Muir Woods today. This pic is of Hannah and Frankie standing inside one of the unbelievably beautiful older trees with lighting courtesy of a ray of sunlight coming through the trees.

Merry-go-round

2009-04-18T21:02:00.001-07:00

Frankie loves the park more than anything right now. She gets so excited that she treats everything there likes she is at one of the speed dating events. One minute on the swings, one minute on the slides, one minute on the merry-go-round, a minute in the sandbox then she does it all over again. Pretty damn funny to watch.

Just Me

2009-04-17T21:32:00.001-07:00

No hats. No masks. Just me.

I wish my daddy had a panda mask

2009-04-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

I bought this panda mask for $19.99 + shipping and had big ideas of a whole series with it. But it is just damn stupid. Maybe I will think of something to do with it but the only reason I am posting this one is because when I showed the shot to Frankie she started singing "I wish my daddy had a panda mask!" and I can't let the kid down.

Leonard Cohen made me do it.

2009-04-15T19:03:00.001-07:00

We saw Leonard Cohen last night and he was unbelievably awesome! One of the best shows I have ever seen. He is such a cool cat...the voice, the lyrics, the smoothness, the suit, and the HAT. No words to describe him really. He is a true original.

If you haven't heard him then you need to. Just a little sampling:

"Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
Thats how it goes
Everybody knows"

Anyway, with my hair long wearing cool hats looked damn stupid. And Mr. Cohen looked so damn cool in his. So, the simple solution was to cut my hair off. Done. Now, I can wear cool hats.

Angel

2009-04-14T16:30:00.001-07:00

Aren't they all when they are sleeping? :-)

Practicing some photoshop. Hair is hard! This is not perfect but it is not terrible either.

Outtake?

2009-04-13T20:23:00.001-07:00

Photographs are snapshots of less than a second of time. They can capture people, animals, special events, a beautiful landscape, and so much more. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this cliche is absolutely true. Looking at a picture can evoke every emotion known to man...passion, love, happiness, sadness, anger, etc.

In our modern life, everyone has some kind of camera and these moments are captured nearly nonstop. With digital cameras we weed through these photos and delete all the non good ones. I take pictures every day and nearly all of them except for a couple will be deleted and a visual history of that moment deleted along with it. My excuse is that I take so many that my kids will still have 100x more of themselves as kids than I have of my childhood. Or that I am responsible for a photo of a certain moment even existing at all so if I never took the shot then there would have never been a picture at all. No biggie if I delete it.

I was looking through my shots today and for some reason this ordinary shot of Hannah skateboarding would not let me delete it. There was something visual about it that caused an emotion. I look at it and I see Americana and the good life...skateboarding, white picket fence, a child having fun. I also see the only picture I have, and may ever have, of Hannah skateboarding. Without it, who is to say that she ever skateboarded? I also see her Spaghetti Cat t-shirt she got from a friend at her birthday last week. I am not even sure if she will remember the Spaghetti Cat when she is older but this picture will make her wonder and she will need to know.

Anyway, this is an ordinary picture. One of many I have taken but one that luckily has survived the "delete" button.

Smoking Bunny

2009-04-12T19:04:00.001-07:00

"Sometimes I doubt your dedication to Sparkle Motion" - line from "Donnie Darko"

In honor of Easter we watched "Donnie Darko" last night and I stayed up to 2AM messing around with my last shot. Up at 7AM with the kids hiding baskets and eggs and had some friends over for breakfast. I am a bit tired and decided a smoking bunny would be perfect for this day that means nothing to anyone who is not a kid or a Christian.

Yes I just happen to have bunny ears because I did a project a few years ago photographing as many people that were willing to in them. Check out www.bunnyearsproject.com if you want to see what that was all about.

Hope everyone had a great Sunday. Have a fantastic week.

Little Red Riding Hood

2009-04-12T01:40:00.001-07:00

The moment I pulled this sweater out of the drawer for Frankie I knew what I wanted for my picture today. I envisioned the look, the style, and the composition. When working with a 2 year old it is never easy to actually get the shot you want, especially when they decide to skip nap time. I like how this turned out.

Rusty Crane

2009-04-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

Had some big plans for day 100 but I was derailed when I remembered the banks were closed and I couldn't get my hands on a $100 bill. Ended up with a boring pic of a rusty crane that I tried to do something with little luck. Oh well, it is just one of the 365 days so what's the big deal. They can't all be winners.

Scratched and Dirty

2009-04-09T20:20:00.001-07:00

What does it matter, a dream of love
Or a dream of lies
We're all gonna be in the same place
When we die
Your spirit don't leave knowing
Your face or your name
And the wind through your bones
Is all that remains
And we're all gonna be
We're all gonna be
Just dirt in the ground

- Tom Waits

Frankie "The Kid"

2009-04-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Frankie "The Kid" was recently spotted at a park in Alameda, CA.

Tres Amigos

2009-04-08T17:37:00.001-07:00

This is the last known picture of the Tres Amigos gang. Dominickle Pickle, Hambone, and Frankie “The Kid” are fugitives WANTED in 57 counties for tomfoolery, mischief making, dog wrangling, avoiding chores, laughing loudly, eating junkfood, videogame playing, tv watching, staying up past their bedtime, public display of cuteness, and last but not least… wearing fake mustaches.

If you see these desperados proceed with caution as the little blond one may be packing something in her diaper. Report directly to the local authorities and collect your reward.

What I see in the mirror

2009-04-07T18:30:00.001-07:00

Not to be overly dramatic but most days I have a hard time liking myself.

The personality trait I possess of being my own harshest critic is one that I both admire and despise. It drives me to be a better husband, father, friend, artist, employee... to be a better person. But it also makes it hard to see when I am actually improving or doing something good because it can always always be better. I often cuss at myself or tell myself that I suck. I punish myself in many ways. Sometimes it works to achieve something I am trying to do. Sometimes it just depresses me.

This demand for perfection is also something I at times place on others but not nearly to the same degree or in the same manner. I feel I am very accepting and encouraging of others. I definitely appreciate others for who they are. It does not have to be done my way. I am open and would never place that pressure on anyone...especially those who I love. Why is it so hard to do this with myself?

Anyway, I think this shot is okay except the fact that I copied a hundred others that have done something similar with their reflection in a mirror.

I carry your heart with me

2009-04-06T22:12:00.001-07:00

i carry your heart with me

(i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it

(anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate

(for you are my fate, my sweet)

i want no world

(for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

- e.e. cummings

i love you B. Happy Birthday!

Baby

2009-04-05T22:02:00.001-07:00

Ugggh! This 365 project definitely has it's highs and lows and right now I am in a rut. Creative gods where are you?

Fisheye Wife

2009-04-04T21:48:00.000-07:00

Today was Hannah's 13th Birthday party. Thought it would be fun to take fisheye shots of everyone. This is my favorite shot of my favorite person.

If life gives you a lemon...

2009-04-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

... take a picture of it and add photoshop textures.

Looking California, Feeling Minnesota

2009-04-02T22:18:00.000-07:00

Sweetheart Come

2009-04-01T21:36:00.001-07:00

Come over here, babe
lt ain't that bad
I don't claim to understand
The troubles that you've had
But the dogs you say they fed you to
Lay their muzzles in your lap
And the lions that they led you to
Lie down and take a nap
The ones you fear are wind and air
And I love you without measure
It seems we can be happy now
Be it better late than never

Sweetheart, come
Sweetheart, come
Sweetheart, come
Sweetheart, come to me

The burdens that you carry now
Are not of your creation
So let's not weep for their evil deeds
But for their lack of imagination
Today's the time for courage, babe
Tomorrow can be for forgiving
And if he touches you again with his stupid hands
His life won't be worth living

Sweetheart, come
Sweetheart, come
Sweetheart, come
Sweetheart, come to me

Walk with me now under the stars
For it's a clear and easy pleasure
And be happy in my company
For I love you without measure
Walk with me now under the stars
It's a safe and easy pleasure
It seems we can be happy now
It's late but it ain't never
It's late but it ain't never
It's late but it ain't never

- Nick Cave

Pure Joy

2009-03-31T19:06:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-30T13:08:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-29T17:07:00.001-07:00

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.