Oh Yeah! Photos

New Site

2006-11-29T12:00:00.000+01:00

Ich poste noch Fotos! Sie werden einfach in besseren Seite gefunden. Der Neue Seite

I am still posting Photos! Instead of here, you can find them at my new website. The New Site

Let's do this

2006-11-28T09:06:00.000+01:00

Ich freue mich dich zu meiner neuer Seite einzuladen. Um das vorheriges Foto zu sehen, klick auf das aktuelles Foto. Um durch die Fotos per Category zu suchen, klick auf "Browse" oben. Du bist noch herzlich willkommen comments zu lassen. Um ein Comment zu schrieben, klick auf "+comments" in der box unter das Foto. So... Für das Foto heutes und jeder danach: My new photoblog!

I am really excited to invite you to my new photoblog! This one has treated me well, but the new one is a much better forum for my photos. If you want to see the previous photo, click on the photo you see. Check out the "browse" link at the top to look for specific photos by category or to see thumbs of all the photos. You are, as always, more than welcome to leave me comments, just click the link that says "+comments" in the box at the bottom. You can even choose between dark or white background color for the photo by clicking the link at the bottom. so, here it is: My new photoblog!

Eiffel Tower #3

2006-11-27T11:21:00.000+01:00

-Deutsch-
Noch ein Foto von der Eifel Turm. Nicht so lange nach ich dieses Foto gemacht habe, fängt es an zu regnen. Ich könnte damals noch eine Stunde mehr verbringen um Fotos von der Turm zu machen. Weisst Du was das heiss? Ich muss noch einmal nach Paris reisen...

-English-
I know, I know... "ANOTHER photo of the Eiffel Tower?" Yes, another photo of the Eiffel Tower. Don't worry, it started to rain before I could take near as many photos of the tower as I wanted. There are probably only one or two more that I am willing to post.

Parisian Strasse

2006-11-26T11:43:00.000+01:00

Die ist eine enge Parisian Strasse. Wir haben gerade vorher Gyros/Döner gegessen.

This was of a little street in Paris that I thought looked cool. We had just eaten a Gyro/Döner Kebap thing before I took this picture.

Eiffel Tower #2

2006-11-25T11:37:00.000+01:00

Von oben an der Arc de Triumphe habe ich dieses Foto gemacht. Die violete Farbe habe ich zu die Schwarz Weiss später gegeben. Meiner Meinung nach gibt es ein alteres Gefüll als ob man es in Fotobuch von der 1950er finden könnte.

This picture was taken from the top of the Arc de Triumphe. I wonder if they planned to have the legs line up perfectly from this vantage point. Pretty sweet, in my opinion. I made the photo black and white, then I gave it the purple tint. I think it makes it look like something one might find in a photo book of Paris from the 1950's or something.

Eiffel Tower

2006-11-24T10:42:00.000+01:00

Ich bin gerade unter der Turm als ich das Foto gemacht habe. Ein paar aus Belgien haben versucht mich zu ärgern, aber ich mag das Foto so, ein bisschen gekippelt.

Looking up from the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. There are more pictures of the Eiffel Tower coming.

Visiting Notre Dame

2006-11-23T10:30:00.000+01:00

-Deutsch-
Letzte Wochenende bin ich mit Guillermo und Alex nach Paris gefahren. (Vielleicht habe ich das gestern erklärt, ich weiss nicht mehr.) Wir sind am Samstag ein bisschen durch die Stadt gebummelt. Wir haben Notre Dame von die vier Seiten gesehen. Hier ist Notre Dame mit der Zwillingsschwestern als sie die bekannte Kirche fotographieren. Ich habe die Farben so wunderschön gefunden. Ich konnte mir nicht vorstellen wie anders es ist Paris im verschiedene Jahreszeiten zu besuchen.

-English-
Last weekend, I went with Guillermo and Alex to Paris. I may have already told you that yesterday, not sure. We met a bunch of new and awesome people there. I had a blast. So this picture is obviously taken of the Cathederal of Notre Dame. The twin sisters that we met there are taking a photo of the church. I am amazed at how different it is to visit Paris in the fall than during the spring or summer. It was really quite awesome. I really like the contrast of the blue sky and blue roof with the orange and yellow leaves in front of the cathederal.

-Español-
no puedo todavía, pero quiero algún día.

Paris Postcards

2006-11-22T09:29:00.000+01:00

-Deutsch-
Ich habe dieses Foto neben der Seine gemacht. Ich finde es so schön mit die Postkarten Verkäufer und die herbstliche Bäume hinter. Paris ist super...

-English-
I made this picture along the Seine in Paris. I love the little stands selling postcards and posters and whatever-else along the sides of the river. For this trip, the Autumn colors were a great touch.

Noch Einmal/Once Again

2006-11-21T09:20:00.000+01:00

Noch einmal muss ich eine Kreation meines Bruders posten. Vielleicht heute Abend kann ich für morgen ein Foto fertig machen.

Again I have to post something my brother sent me. I don't have time to prepare my own photo yet. Perhaps tonight for tomorrow.

Sorry...No photo today

2006-11-20T19:38:00.000+01:00

I know I promised a photo earlier today, but more urgent things have come up. No worries. Alles klar. But, they need to be taken care of now and posting a photo would take me too long to do today. Tomorrow I will make time.

Have a good day.

Guest Post

2006-11-20T06:00:00.000+01:00

Ich hoffe jeder hat ein wünderschönes Wochenende gehabt. Vor eine Woche habe ich eine Foto gepostet von dieser Mercedes. Mein Bruder, Tyler, hat es manipuliert. Ich meine es sieht richtig freaking awesome aus. Gut gemacht, Ty. Klar bin ich zurück von Paris. Deswegen habe ich wieder Fotos und habe ich wieder Lust, Fotos zu machen. Ich habe noch nicht geschlafen und habe seit Freitag ungefähr sechs Stunden geschlafen deshalb werde ich die Fotos später organizieren und eine für Montag posten. Danke für deine Verständnis.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. A week ago I posted this picture of the Mercedes. My brother, Tyler, took that picture and made this picture. I think it looks really, really awesome, Tyler. Well done! I got back from Paris at about 330am Sunday. I returned the rental car and made it back to my apartment at about 4 or 430, about an hour after the three cans of red bull finally started to kick in. I have photos from Paris and I feel like I once again have the desire to make more photos. Which means... I will try to sleep here in a few minutes, then when I get up, I will post Monday's photo.

My Dad

2006-11-16T16:42:00.000+01:00

Der ist mein Vater. Der ist auch der Vater drei anderes, meiner Geschwister. Bruce ist ein cool guy.

Its my dad, Bruce. He's a cool guy.

Mercedes

2006-11-13T11:06:00.000+01:00

Ich bin mit King aus gegangen um Fotos zumachen. Es ist keine Überraschung dass wann wir ein Auto gesehen haben, haben wir versucht es zu fotographieren.

My friend, King, loves cars. He and I went out to take pictures once a while ago. Actually, we go out often to make photos. We came across this car and the way King talked about it, I decided it'd be a good idea to make a photo.

William Tell

2006-11-12T11:20:00.000+01:00

William Tell steht in Lausanne mit seine Hose ganz geöffnet. Ich habe ihn aber nicht beleidigt weil er eine Armbrust hat. Ich habe ein paar Gerüchte von seine Armbrustfähigkeit gehört. Ich denke es ist keine gute Idee ihn zu ärgern als er sie hält.

It's William Tell. Wearing a dress. I made the picture in Lausanne a couple months ago.

Statue Corner

2006-11-11T17:00:00.000+01:00

Das Foto ist in Aachen gemacht. Sie ist die Seite eine alte Kirche.

-English-

I made this photo in Aachen. This is the corner of an old church that was there.

Trauben aus der Schweiz/Swiss Grapes

2006-11-10T08:19:00.000+01:00

Ich habe heute gesehen dass gestern habe ich zufällig ein englisches Wort in die deutsches Teil benutzt. Ist wahrscheinlich eine von meine kleinste Fehle...

Die Trauben habe ich in der Schweiz gefunden. In Lausanne und die Umgebung gab es viele Trauben. Lausanne ist in die französisches Teil der Schweiz, ganz westlich und ziemlich südlich. Italien ist auch gerade gegen über der See in Lausanne. Es gab Schiffahrt bis zu Frankreich und zu Italien.

-English-

These grapes are from Switzerland. Lausanne, to be exact. There were a lot of vineyards in the area around Lausanne. These grapes were in a small grape field, in the city. There couldn't have been more than about 100 small vines existing in the field. They speak French in the part of Switzerland where Lausanne is.

From Lausanne, which is relatively south and pretty much all the way west, one can get very quickly to France and to Italy. There are regular ferries from Lausanne and most of the cities on the lake there, which go to "ports" in France and Italy. I didn't take advantage because of a limited amount of time, but it was pretty sweet none-the-less.

Autumn Church

2006-11-09T23:27:00.000+01:00

Diese Kirche würde letztes Jahr fotografiert. Sie steht in der nahe from Waterloo Platz. Wie der Umgebung genau heisst, weiss ich nicht. Leider konnte ich ein Wunsch für das Foto heute nicht gönnen.

This is an Autumny Church. An Autumn photo was requested today and this was as close as I came to 'autumn.' I had another requested post, but unfortunately, I couldn't grant that wish. You have to decide if its good enough or not. Just so we're clear, this photo was, without a doubt, made in Autumn of last year. So it is Autumn. That is Autumn light in which the church is basking. Autumn basking is much different than the more recognized 'summertime basking,' but its still basking. Bask, church, bask.

(sometimes I don't even know what I'm talking about.)

Birds

2006-11-08T12:09:00.000+01:00

Diese Fotos sind vor ein paar Monate in der Schwiez gemacht. Vogeln sind awesome Tieren. Ich möchte diese Foto für mein Opa posten. Er hat immer an die Vogeln in seine Garten geguckt. Er und meine Oma haben sie auch immer gefettert. Maiz für die Hörnchen, Erdnuss für die Blue Birds, und kleine Saatgut für die kleinere Vogeln.

This picture is for my Grandpa. He always liked to watch the birds in his backyard. He and my grandmother would also feed them. The would put out corn on the cob out for the squirrels, peanuts for the blue birds, and small seeds for the littler birds.

Open Sea

2006-11-07T11:49:00.000+01:00

Das Foto würde in Lausanne in der Schweiz gemacht.

This one is from Switzerland, in Lausanne.

I wanted to share a couple other things with you.

The first is this picture I made in Hannover several weeks ago and find to be fricken hilarious.

The second is this link to a video. This is a commercial that aired in 1982. I heard about it on The Scientific American Podcast and lo and behold, a simple google search brings up exactly what I was looking for...

"Question: Why take diet pills when you can enjoy..."

"What Kyle, what can I enjoy???" Just click the link. It's only 30 seconds long. And there is only one commercial. HARHARHAR

Am I immature? Without a doubt. And I intend to stay that way for the rest of my life. "Don't take life too seriously or you'll never get out alive."

First Steps

2006-11-06T10:53:00.000+01:00

(Sorry, leider schreibe ich heute kein Deutsch. Ich habe keine Laune dafür.)

The other day, I went out walking in Hannover to take some photos. It was pretty freaking cold out. I came across a wedding party right after they came out of the courthouse, where the ceremony was performed. They walked out to steps covered in confetti and flower petals. I thought it was a great way to welcome a pair that had just stepped out of a building into a new life of togetherness. Pretty sweet.

It is weird to think that a 'simple' idea like marriage can mean such different things to everyone. To some its important and they want to be married, to some its not and they live their life with a partner and children but never are married. To some its a very serious thing, to some not. Some will only ever marry once out of principle, some will give it 3, 4, 5 or more tries. I think no matter what, its not an easy thing all the time. It was nice to see this couple welcomed by friends and family showing their support of the two. I have no idea who they are, but I wish them the best.

Hamburg

2006-11-05T14:53:00.000+01:00

Ich habe dieses Foto im Hamburg als ich dabei mit Pat gewesen war. Es gab eine Laser Light show. Die Meisten von solche Fotos sind nicht so gut, aber die hier ist nicht so schlecht, meine ich.

This picture is from when I went to Hamburg with Pat. There was a laser light show. It was pretty cool. From our angle we could mostly only see some fountains with lights. There were lasers later on, but the photos didn't come out very well. Only this one was ok.

I went to play soccer in the city with a couple friends. We didn't play much soccer cause there were only four of us, but we stood along the road and waved at people for probably close to 45 minutes. It was awesome. We got a lot of people to wave back to us. Some people just smiled. Several pretended not to see us. We got two people to give us the German sign for 'you're crazy'. We got two peace signs. We got about 3 or 4 middle fingers. It was impressive. A lot of fun. It made my day. I hope it cheered up some of the people to whom we waved.

Fenster

2006-11-04T09:59:00.000+01:00

Ich habe heute morgen nichts zu sagen. Schön Samstag.

I got nothin today. Have a good day.

Garage

2006-11-03T08:06:00.000+01:00

Gestern habe ich die Chance gehabt rund um Hannover zu laufen um Fotos zu machen. Es war ziemlich kuhl. Man konnte auch kalt sagen. Es war mir perfekt für einen frühen Wintertag. Ich habe eine neue Ehepaar gerade nach ihre Hochzeit gesehen. Ich habe versucht ein paar schöne Fotos zu diesem Theme zu machen. Wir sehen noch ob ich die poste. Heute ist Freitag. Geniess deine Wochenende.

It's friday! Exciting, I know. Yesterday, I went out and made some photos in Hannover. It was cold, but I still walked around for a couple hours. I just made sure to take breaks in McDonalds or in a church or something. I also walked along the Maschsee (a decent sized lake in Hannover) with a swan. I think he thought I was going to feed him. We just walked up and down the sidewalk along the lake. I walked, he actually swam. At one point, I sat down on the steps overlooking the water and he sat on the steps, too, cleaning himself. It was kind of cool. It was really nice to feel like I was feeling nature. It took me away from the city for a moment, away from all of life, really. It was a nice break.

Tree Stump

2006-11-02T12:38:00.000+01:00

Das Foto würde in Ohio bei Oak Openings Metropark gemacht. Jetzt kommt das Winter. Es ist schon kalt (und wird natürlich kälter). Die Himmel ist grau und langsam.

Its winter. It has made its arrival known this week. It is still not unpleasantly cold, as I expect it to be before long, but the worst parts have already set in. It is dark at 5pm (and will continue to get darker earlier) and the sky is always cloudy and gray. The sun will hopefully return in April or May. If we are lucky, we will see him bundled up in his scarf and gloves once or twice before then, but I won't count on such luck.

Happy November

2006-11-01T11:15:00.000+01:00

Als ich an dieses Foto gucke, sieht die Bewölkung unterwegs zu sein. Die Weihnachtsmarkts wird bald geöffnet werden. Ich bin sehr aufgeregt. Kann kaum warten ein Bisschen Glühwein zu trinken und vielleicht ein paar Crepes essen... yummy.

The clouds seem like they're moving, to me. (Sometimes I write stuff in German (see above) and I wonder if it even makes any freakin' sense. Oh well! I know what I'm talking about...)

Happy November! November is the sneaky month. Everyone wakes up at least once in the first week of November and says 'Holy SHIT! It's NOVEMBER!' As if its been sneaking its way up the order of months in the year and comes earlier every time around. Before you know it we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving in the middle of Lent. It'll be like halftime.

Türen/Doors

2006-10-31T09:26:00.000+01:00

Die Türen stehen in Herrenhäuser Garten. Ich habe keine Ahnung was die Verwendungszweck der Gebäude ist aber die Türen haben kläre Ziele: Leute ein- und auszulassen. Und zweitens gut auszusehen. Heute versuche ich ein Trockner zureparieren. Ich bin darauf aufgeregt.

The photo of these doors was made in Herrenhäuser Garten. These particular doors, however, where actually bred and raised in the wild but have made a very successful adjustment to captivity in the gardens. In fact, many of their children have even been domesticated. Some of them serve as pets for the elderly, cheering them up when they are lonely, or as guides for the blind and otherwise-disabled, making entry-ways to buildings where ever the individual feels is most convenient. One problem child, Eddy, still likes to play jokes. A couple times it has gotten out of hand. Once he put himself on the outside wall of a 25th story apartment during a party with a nametag that said 'toilet'. Then one other time, during a fire drill, he stood in front of a wall, but didn't open the wall. Four people ran through him and straight into the wall before they realized he was just playing silly door games. Be on the lookout for Eddy. He mostly likes to hang out on the set of Roadrunner & Coyote films but also occasionally makes appearances as an extra for Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck flicks as well.

Lady and the Leaf

2006-10-30T07:51:00.000+01:00

Vor ein paar Tage, wann das Wetter so schön mit 20C war, habe ich dieses Foto gemacht.

This picture is a couple days old. I took it the same day as the picture of the park bench. Now its rainy every day. The temperature seems to be absteigen

Powerhouse

2006-10-29T18:06:00.000+01:00

Die letzte paar Tage habe ich Probleme mit dem posting program gehabt. Zum Beispiel, heute morgen habe ich diese post erstellt aber wann ich jetzt, im Abend wieder gucke, sehe ich dass es nicht gepostet ist. Egal. Soll nur ein paar Tage noch vor die neue Seite bereit ist. Dann kannst Du die Fotos grosser und besser sehen.

The last couple of days, I have been having trouble with the posting utility I use. For some reason, the posts have not been making it to blogger. Its ok though. I hope to have my new site up and ready in the next couple of days. I have been testing it and it works beautifully. Just a couple more adjustments...

Lookout

2006-10-28T10:09:00.000+02:00

English is below, in case you guys haven't noticed that the last couple days already. I need the practice, so I write in German also...

Ich habe keine Ahnung wie ich dieses Foto auf Deutsch nennen soll. Es ist, klar, in dem Nacht gemacht. Ich mache am liebsten Fotos wann es dunkel ist. Dieses Foto habe ich durch zwei und halb Minute gemacht. Das Wasser ist natürlich der Maschsee. Das Wetter war so schön obwohl es die Mittel Oktobers war und es gab viele Leute draussen. Viele haben komische Gesichte geziehen als ich mit Stativ da stand.

Ich muss meine Haar kurzer gemacht werden lassen. Jetzt fällt viel auf dem Tisch. Vielleicht bekomme ich eine Glatze... Das kann ich aber nicht glauben. Meine Opas haben viel Haar noch (oder bis zum Tod gewesen.) Aber die Glatze kommt von die Vater deiner Mutter. Zum Glück werde ich auf keinen Fall von ihm eine Glatze bekommen. Ausser wenn meine Brüdern recht gehabt haben... Sie sagen immer noch dass ich Adoptivkind bin.

ENGLISH

I took this picture last Sunday after meeting with Grace and Mario for the afternoon. Mario and I had a nice discussion and then I rode with him to the Maschsee so he could exercise. I love making night-time photos. I took a couple photos of a damn-house right at dusk and I may post one or two of those at a later date. It was completely dark by the time I stumbled across this photo waiting to be made. This is one of those pay-for-a-look binocular things overlooking the Maschsee. I got a lot of funny looks from people as they walked past me and I was standing there in an odd pose, blocking the light, holding the shutter button, and counting semi-outloud.

I would just like to say that Facebook is out of control. Some of the groups that get started and the discussions that follow are ridiculous. It is all-too-often discouraging to read the comments of some of my fellow Americans.

Einsam Herbstlich Park/Lonely Autumn Park

2006-10-27T08:19:00.000+02:00

Gestern bin ich drei Stunden lang südlich von Hannover skating gegangen. Ich habe meine Kamera mitgebrungen. Es war so schön draussen. Es war warm und sonnig und die Bäume und Boden sind sehr Bund gewesen. Ein Auto hat mir fast geschlagt. Ich mag diese Bank im kleinem Park in Südstadt. Es sieht so einladend aus.

I went rollerblading for 3 hours south of Hannover yesterday. It was beautiful outside. It was 70F, sunny, and there were colorful leaves everywhere. I saw this bench in a park somewhere and it looked so inviting.

Bier

2006-10-26T09:33:00.000+02:00

Dieses Foto kommt auch aus Hamburg während meine Reise mit W (Pat). Ich habe die Komposition von King fast kopiert. Aber eigentlich, hat Pat das Glas so gestehen und die Kerze hinter gestehen. Wir waren bei eine kleine Pizza Restaurant. Pat hat es irgendwie kennen. Ich glaube er hat viel über Hamburg gelesen weil ich ein schlechter Gastgeber war. Ich habe die ganze Zeit ein Job gesucht. Jetzt wünsche ich dass ich die Zeit besser mit ihn verbringen hatte. Jetzt habe ich noch ein Chance die Zeit 'besser' zuverbringen. Manche denken noch dass ich die Zeit nur zum Suche benutzen muss. Ich hoffe nur dass wenn ich Deutschland lassen muss, geniesse ich noch die letzte paar Monate weil das mir wichtigste ist...meine Leben zu geniessen. OK - Nichts mehr...

This picture is from my trip to Hamburg with Pat. I almost didn't go because I was trying to save money and stay in Germany as long as I could. W (Pat), being the good friend that he is, convinced me to go anyway. It was really much better for me that way. Perhaps I need another one of those trips, for a day or so. Anyway, we ate at a little pizza place that W seemed to already know about. He had lots of time to read up about everything there was to do in Hamburg because I was frivolously searching for a job. King made a photo similar to this once. I forgot about that when W suggested the composition. He lined everything up and I made a couple slight adjustments for my perspective and !Tada! PHOTO!

Spinne/Spider

2006-10-25T06:17:00.000+02:00

(Ich habe gelernt mehr als die Halbe der Besucher kommen aus Deutschland, so hier ist auch was auf Deutsch für euch. Auch ist es gut für mich um zu üben. Es ist keine übersetzung.)

Dieses Foto habe ich in Hamburg vor drei Monate gemacht. Vielleicht war es schon vier Monate. Pat hat mich damals besucht und wir haben ein Tag Hamburg gesehen. Es war so schön Pat zu sehen. Er hat in Honduras zwei Jahre gewohnen und es war schierig in Kontakt zu bleiben. Hamburg gefällt mir sehr gerne. Fast jeder Stadt am Wasser gefällt mir. Aber Wasser grosser als eine kleine Fluss und grosser als Maschsee. Wahrscheinlich muss das Wasser gross und fliessend sein. Maschsee ist nicht schlecht. Es ist aber nicht gleich. Wir sind unter dem Fluss gelaufen. Am "andere" Seite gibt's nicht so viel zu sehen. Es gibt eine schöne Aussicht an die bekannte Seite. Ausserdem gibt's ein paar alte Gebäude. Ich habe eine alte Antriebswelle die diese Spinne als Hause benutzt dabei gefunden.

Pat came to visit me about three months ago. Perhaps it was already four. We went to Hamburg one day and I made this photo there. It was really nice to see Pat. He lived in Honduras for 2 years and it was difficult to stay in touch. Now that he is back in the states it is at least a little bit easier. Anyway, I really like Hamburg. I like pretty much any city on the water. But it has to be water bigger than a little river and bigger than Maschsee. I havent pinpointed the requirements exactly...maybe the water has to be large and flowing. For example, the Maschsee, which is in Hannover, is nice, but it doesn't do the same things for me.

Statue

2006-10-24T08:57:00.000+02:00

I took this picture last November in the Herrenhäuser Garten. I have been to the Garten since then to take pictures, in July, when I would have thought everything would be nicer. The plants were greener and the sun was brighter. But I found it to be much less interesting in the summer time. Everything was so green it lacked contrast. The mid-summer lighting was not as nice as that of November.

Something about the crow sitting on the head of the statue reminds me of an Edgar Allen Poe poem. I think its because the statue wants to live. There is a lot of motion in the statue, (Would it be considered Baroque, anyone know?) but the crow just defeats all of that. How that reminds me of Poe, I don't really know. But it does.

Trevi Fountain

2006-10-23T06:52:00.000+02:00

Last November, I went to Rome with Alex. She showed me all kinds of cool stuff to see there. Things I probably should have known existed but didn't, like this fountain, the Spanish Steps, and other stuff. I can't wait to go back to Italy.

Daniel

2006-10-22T11:03:00.000+02:00

When we went to Otrokovice and Puchov with the Trainee Pool, we stopped in Vienna for a night and hung out at the Weihnachtsmarkt. This picture is from then.

I am disconnected.

Self-Portrait

2006-10-21T13:07:00.000+02:00

This is some clown, wearing The Hat of Destiny, as I now like to call it.

Technical Difficulties

2006-10-20T13:39:00.000+02:00

Sorry for the technical difficulties. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to resume posting.

The Internet-Hole

2006-10-17T17:39:00.000+02:00

I interpret the internet as a black hole that sucks me in. My friend, Kyle calls it "Weblor "and considers him to be a monster with which Kyle must do battle. Either way, the point is, the internet is full of awesome information, but I still waste too much time with it and that is not fun.

Jewish Memorial

2006-10-16T16:38:00.000+02:00

King and I went out the other night to take some photos. I was none-to-impressed with most of them that I took while I was with King. We parted ways and I walked home from the Hauptbahnhof. On the way, I felt motivated to finally take some pictures around the Operhaus. I didn't actually find a good way to take any of the house itself, but this monument is across the street from the house, so I took a couple pictures of it. It's an interesting memorial.

Swaying Weeds

2006-10-15T12:30:00.000+02:00

I took this picture in Dublin, Ohio, when I was with Cousin Deb looking at the waterfall. My battery had died, so I had to use the 'heat it up in your hand to make it take just a couple more photos' trick. It worked well. Again.

Old Cemetery

2006-10-14T16:48:00.000+02:00

This picture is from Dublin when I visited Brad and Deb. When Deb and I went to take pictures of a couple waterfalls, we passed this cool, old cemetery. This was really the only picture I was inspired to make. I am decently pleased.

Dublin Waterfalls #1

2006-10-13T09:19:00.000+02:00

When I went down to visit Deb and Brad last Thursday, I went out Friday morning with Deb to take some pictures of some waterfalls near her house. They were pretty freakin' sweet, in my opinion. Thanks for showing them to me Deb.

Late Bloomer

2006-10-12T09:53:00.000+02:00

This picture is from the same field where I made yesterday's photo. It is one of several flowers which were blooming along the side of the road, next to the fields of dead beans. (Its ok, they're supposed to be dead.)

Happy Birthday, Stu!

Beans

2006-10-11T14:15:00.000+02:00

On my way to visit my cousins, Deb and Brad, I stopped and took some pictures in a field. I never knew that soy beans were so hairy.

Back Again

2006-10-09T17:22:00.000+02:00

I'm back!

In a few hours, I will start my journey back to the Great Face of the World, Europe. I am a cornicopia of emotions. Haha. I just wanted to use that word because it reminds me of Thanksgiving. (Cornicopia, I mean. Not emotions.)

This is a tree just across the fence in my parents' backyard. This was a commissioned photo, actually. My mom told me she wanted a picture of the trees back there because they are such brilliant oranges and yellows and reds. I'm not terribly pleased with this particular shot, but its decent. Coming up should be a couple of decent shots. I visited a couple people over the weekend (which is why I haven't been posting) and took some photos. I was, however, extremely dissapointed because the second day in to my five day trip, my camera battery ran out. Grr...

\"...Sat on a park bench older than my country...\"

2006-10-05T14:37:00.000+02:00

Its just a park bench. Its from Oak Openings.

My Parents' Backyard

2006-10-04T19:53:00.000+02:00

This morning, my mom asked me to make some photos of a tree in her backyard. I tried, but I'm not sure I'm satisfied with the way they turned out. While I was there, though, I made this photo of two big tufts of grass and the back tree line. Their house is off to the left in the photo. I really debated Black and White, but I like the orange color of the trees. Autumn is fun.

Oak Openings

2006-10-03T06:00:00.000+02:00

This picture counts for October 3rd. I don't have my picture archives here with me, so please bear with me. Sorry for the lateness. I wanted to stop at another one of the metroparks and shoot some photos today because it is so beautiful out, but I had to come home so my sister wouldn't get off the bus alone.

Hopefully tomorrow it will be nice long enough for me to get some pictures.

Autumn\'s Coming 2

2006-10-02T13:23:00.000+02:00

Again, from Oak Openings. I think I am only capable of taking decent photos with a tripod. I don't know if that is a fault of mine or if my camera is limiting my potential. Someday I'll be able to invest in something better...someday...

Waterfall

2006-10-01T10:06:00.000+02:00

I don't even know what time it is... Its 3am. But its really 4am. But in all actuality, its 10am. Its wild-freakin' nuts.

Autumn\'s Coming

2006-09-30T12:52:00.000+02:00

Off to Chicago to celebrate the hitching of an old high school buddy. Congratulations, Riley!

Tree

2006-09-29T13:43:00.000+02:00

Also from Oak Openings.

Stairs

2006-09-28T00:57:00.000+02:00

Today's picture comes late. For those of you in Germany, today's picture is coming tomorrow, which is now today, but its still yesterday's picture...Got that? What it means is...if you're checking this on Friday, then know this is Thursday's picture. Friday's picture will come a little later.

I got on my bike this morning and road to Oak Openings. Oak Openings is one of the things I miss about Toledo. It is a Metropark in the Toledo area. [http://www.metroparkstoledo.com/metroparks/oakopenings/] I love the Toledo Metro Parks. I think they are absolutely great. They are home. I realized that today. But then, I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

This morning, I wanted to take pictures of the rising sun. Though I arose myself at half past four, I left home at 7 for a forecasted sunrise of 730. Problem is, the exciting part, the breaking of the sun over the horizon, happens much earlier than 730. By the time I got to the park, the sun was still hidden behind the trees, but the sky was already blue.

I listened to a new album I got this week, the one by Blue October. It relaxed and inspired me to make photos. As I hinted before, I realized that I feel at home in the Toledo area Metroparks. I have been to the Harz Mountains and I have been to Turkey Run State Park. I have been in other forests in Dayton and in Germany, but somehow, they are not home. When I am in a forest in the Toledo area, it feels different to me. I can't tell you what exactly it is. Maybe its completely subconscious and only happens because I know I am in Toledo and the actual make-up of the forest has nothing to do with it, but I doubt that. The soils are different. The grasses are different. The kinds of trees are different. The topography is different. The forests are unquestionably different. And without ever realizing it before, I notice this.

Anyway, I hope you like the pictures I made of the outdoors at Oak Openings today because they will be the posted photos for the next few days.

Bobby

2006-09-27T11:01:00.000+02:00

I made this photo in London back in May when I was there with my brother. This officer was one of the guys actually working during the changing of the guard. Making sure the place was guarded while the guards with the fancy suits were fooling around with their musical instruments, flashy sticks, and silly marches.

I made it home last night. Its now 5am. I woke up about an hour ago and have been unable to go back to sleep.

I heard a song on the radio last night that, for the first time in...well, if it's ever happened before, I don't remember. For the first time I can remember, I heard this song and was absolutely amazed. I find it to be a fantastic song with great instruments and the singing that just captivated me from the start. There are two voices layed over each other perfectly. The song is "Into The Ocean" by Blue October. If you get a chance, you should really check it out.

I think, since I'm up, I may try to go get some early morning photos for tomorrow.

Night-time Bench On the Maschsee

2006-09-26T07:39:00.000+02:00

This is the picture I really was pretty excited about from when King and I went out to make photos on Sunday night. It took me several tries to make it. It also required a 2 minute exposure and that I use myself as a human light-shield so there would be no glare. My camera has no timer beyond 30 seconds, so there were several times I would hold the shutter button down for 1 minute and 30 seconds and then all of the sudden I would accidentally let it up and the photo was underexposed.

Stone Chimney and Ivy

2006-09-25T08:41:00.000+02:00

I have nothing to write today.

King and I took some night pictures yesterday and I'm very, very excited about the way they looked on my camera screen... let's see whether they look good on the computer or not.

Statue

2006-09-24T10:39:00.000+02:00

Nice beard and mustache! I bet he goes through shampoo really fast.

::Grins:: I get to go home next week!

Bee on a Dandelion

2006-09-23T14:59:00.000+02:00

I get to go to the states next week! I hope that won't mean no pictures, but I also cannot make any guarantees. I will take my camera with me, but we will see.

Also, I think that I popped my ear drum while trying to clean out my ears. It doesn't hurt, but it is annoying the crap out of me right now. Whoa...Pretty sure I just fixed it. I used my hand and made a pump. I forced air into my ear and it feels fine now.

I like quotes, so here's one that I read this morning.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'WOW What a Ride!'" --Unknown

Puppy Dog

2006-09-22T08:42:00.000+02:00

He's such a cute little puppy dog...

Gotta run...lots to do today.

Schlossecketurm

2006-09-21T06:47:00.000+02:00

Pretty sure that's not a word, but my favorite misuse of the German language is to smash as many words together as I can in order to make one big word that still makes sense to me. Sometimes it actually works.

This picture is also from Aachen last Friday. The feedback from the Mathworks interview went as I thought it would.

I have been waking up early without setting an alarm, lately. Its really cool, but not so cool. Since I don't have so much to do, I feel at the end of the day, like I haven't done anything (which is mostly true) and I get really upset with myself. I should get out and make more photos.

Remember, patience is a virtue. Remember, because I need you to remind me...

Wall

2006-09-20T06:58:00.000+02:00

I made this photo last Friday inside the Aachen Hauptbahnhof. I was standing there with my luggage waiting when I decided I wanted a photo of the wall I was looking at. I took out my camera, focussed on the wall across the tracks, made one or two photos then put my camera away. I noticed afterwards that I was getting many a "What-the-hell-are-you-doing?" stare from those around me. As I've discussed with another American colleague... We seem to get those all the time, everywhere in Germany, for no apparent reason at all. ::shrugs::

Steeple

2006-09-19T08:19:00.000+02:00

This is a photo I made of a church steeple in Aachen. I think I want to switch back to Black and White photos. I like 'em a lot.

I have been having a lot of dreams lately. They have been an awesome mixture of some of the coolest people I have met in the last 6 years. ::sighs:: I miss you guys. Sittin Club, Breakfast Club, trying to build a Foam Gun, Hammer Fights, Dressing Up like Homestarrunner for halloween and doing homework while drinking and eating pretzels, Homemade cat-traps involving powertools and home security systems, mixing carrot cake with power tools, walking around the wal-mart with two salsa bowls making horse-hoof sounds, poker nights, random drawings on the whiteboard, all-night study sessions (not because the work was hard, because we procrastinated, screwing around together until 2am before we started), shooting Z in the eye with a tampon, Open-mic nights, Mario Kart: Double Dash in the Student Affairs Game Room, Camping and four-wheeling in Missouri and Texas, laughing at Keith and Chad for stranding the four-wheelers in Arizona, Driving my Eclipse with a 150lb raw pig in the back while Ray laid next to it and punched it periodically, Scooter races around New Res, promoting safe-sex all around campus, laughing at my roommate for his incredibly loud farts while he slept, cringing because the same roommate flossed his toes with his socks when he thought I wasn't watching but could unfortunatley still see him, midnight attempts to aquire certain paraphanalia from the roadside and almost getting caught by the cops (very smooth talking, by the way, I don't know if I ever congratulated you on that, but well done), Ribs on the last night of the sittin club before graduation, talking to my roommates in my sleep (in italian/german...something not english...), driving around town just to have a good place to hang out, chat, and listen to some music (I miss random 4 hour road trips), The Coffee Shop making ASCII art for Justin and sending each other messages about the girls in the coffee shop or making fun of the stupid guys, visiting uncle crunckle with the Schoen twins, going to football games with the guys and being crowd-surfed up and down the bleachers 'cause I was small (ok, so that was almost 10 years ago, not 5 or 6, but still...), teaching the RAs about Velociraptors (it inspired the chicken walk as well...as I pointed out, velociraptors, according to Jurassic Park, my unquestioned source for all science and pre-history, velociraptors are ancestors of birds, so it makes sense), random working model projects just because I could and am a dork, trying to do a flip onto the couch in the lobby while holding a full glass of water, Trainee Pool trips to East Europe and the USA, unexplored crushes, my first experience being a wingman, making dice out of aluminum just to get the experience with the machine shop, flippy-cup!!!! I love flippy-cup!!! (flippy-cup is my name for the game also known as flip cup, turbo cup, etc.), Paris with Marlo (everything about it... being models in front of the cathederal of ND, meeting random french women who offer their apartment to me in the first 20 minutes, learning all about Amelie along that canal, sneaking past the tight security at the hotel, French Lunch including creme brule, a stiff drink, and some awesome seafood, finding a box full of poo on the edge of the river), "stop-everything-we're-playing-with-legos-in-the-lobby" days, making the professor laugh at our unwelcome outbursts, radio shows with Ellis and calling in the weather from the field with Milks, playing river city ransom and always punching my teammate in the back of the head or throwing brass knuckles at him, playing snake-rattle-n-roll and finally getting to the very end guy but being incapable of defeating him, playing hours and hours of mario kart double dash with Stu as my gunner, being a lifeguard, working at the SRC for volleyball matches, lacrosse team trip to chicago and my first experience eating thai food, ... There is still so much shit I am forgetting. I know there is. The Can-I-Jump-Over-That game, for example... Midnight trips to Steak-N-Shake. Parties in the haunted basement.

Well, maybe you skipped that paragraph, fine with me, I just wanted to refresh my memory about some of those things. Haha...Hammer fights... Someday, I know I'll have similar memories about being here in Europe. Its just hard to bring them up as memories when I feel like its still the same "Stage of my life." Eventually, I'll get to the next pile of little square blocks and jump to the flag pole, slide down and go hang out in a little fortress for a while. "Thank you, Mario, but your princess is in another castle."

Why does the Deutsche Post symbol have those two little arrows on the bottom?

2006-09-18T08:55:00.000+02:00

I can live with the rest. A horn of some sort and two little lines that seem to represent a stand or perhaps a ribbon, to make it look nice. The horn and stand/ribbons don't mean much, but they are rather benign. But when you add those arrows, it confuses people. WHAT ARE THEY FOR?

Water Bugs

2006-09-17T09:23:00.000+02:00

I went out a couple weeks ago to read at the park. I brought my camera with me, just in case I felt the inspiration. Fortunately, I did. Unfortunately, it was sunny that day until I went outside, then it started to rain. Every day for about 3 weeks was exactly like that. It would be sunny until I had the chance to go out, then it would rain.

But alas, I am pleased with this photo. I like the way the exposure of the trees on the edges is so dark and the reflection of the water is so bright that the bugs stand out as they do. I am pleased with the depth of focus I found in this picture. It makes me really happy to be able to give you a picture again that I really feel pleased with. I can think of a few others lately that have been that way, but sadly not too many.

One of my friends told me "It's better to not post any photo at all than to post one you're not happy with." In a sense, I agree. In another sense, I disagree. It would be nice to be able to present to you only my finest, however, I'm learning. This blog isn't about me being a professional, its about me learning photography. Learning how to shoot, how to compose, how to meter. Its about me also learning about me. Its about me taking photos and learning what kind of photos I am pleased with. Some day, I hope to be able to make one of those "professional" presentations of my work to you where I weed out not only the crap, but also the less-than-perfect. Until then, I am very excited to share my journey of learning and growing in photography with you.

Church

2006-09-16T08:12:00.000+02:00

This is a church in Hannover along Sallstrasse. I don't know how long ago I took it.

Concrete Base

2006-09-15T05:15:00.000+02:00

Its a concrete base for something.

See you all tomorrow.

Fishing

2006-09-14T07:41:00.000+02:00

Its another picture from Hamburg. There were a couple guys just hanging out fishing along the edge of the river. I like fishing a lot, but I like it more "outdoorsy", along a lake or river or something with trees around. Oh well, obviously can't always have everything I want.

::sigh:: Sometimes, its just not good enough.

Spider Sillouette

2006-09-13T09:33:00.000+02:00

I went to Hamburg yesterday for an interview. I thought the interview went horribly. During the interview I had to speak english a couple times. I was pissed at myself for that because I knew that I had the skeelz, I just wasn't capable of building german sentences yesterday. When that function is kaputt, I can't think of any of my vocabulary words and my pronounciation starts to sound more and more american than it already did (if that's possible). So that did not go well. And when I left, I felt like it all together went poorly. But then the guy who interviewed me sent me a follow-up email asking for more information, so maybe not as bad as I thought. Well, anyway, that was my little personal blurb for you...

I walked around Hamburg sooo much. It was great. I was exhausted. A) because I didn't sleep well the night before 2) because it was a lot of walking and iii) because the sun was very bright and that always makes me tired. I took naps in parks, read on stairs along the river/harbor, read in parks, took a few photos (still pissed at myself for my photographing technique...), and ate some of the crappiest food I have ever had. I thought I'd try this little fish joint along the harbor. I got a thing of fish and chips and it was decent, but it was soooo greasy that it was gross. And so greasy it gave me a headache.

In other news, the scar I have been trying to develop on my arm is coming along quite nicely. Also, I had two crazy-weird dreams last night. I won't go into too many details here, but it was awesome. Friends from the states, a catapult, a balcony of a beer garden, silly germans speaking english with my buddy and me, and some friends from Europe all came together to make a whole heck of a lot of awesomeness. Lets just say...its a lot of fun to shoot things with a catapult off of a balcony at unsuspecting people below. The other dream was even weirder but not quite as much fun. Also, its really awesome. Having read an article once from the Harvard Journal of medicine or something which says that we dream about what we are trying to put out of our minds, its easy to identify where my stress points are right now...what things I miss...etc.

::end rambling transmission::

The Sun Is Hidden By The Clouds

2006-09-12T22:21:00.000+02:00

Seems to be that way. The light is there, gleaming at the edges. Eventually it will burn through.

Sometimes I sit down for these things and just write down a bunch of crap. Crap that I sometimes call philosophizing.

(These are British clouds, by the way. Taken when I was in London all the way back in May with my brother and his girlfriend and her parents.)

Lausanne

2006-09-11T08:04:00.000+02:00

More water. Like I mentioned not too long ago... I love it. I am most certainly looking forward to go to Hamburg tomorrow. I think it will be a good trip. If nothing else, I will take the opportunity to walk along the harbor and enjoy more water...again.

Statue

2006-09-10T09:26:00.000+02:00

I saw this guy in Switzerland and he had a bird on his head. I thought it was funny, so I considered myself fortunate to be able to get the picture in time.

Actually, the dude is made of stone, so it wasn't all THAT difficult.

I tend to think that there is something a little crazy about statues with a bird on them. Maybe its because it seems to both give them life and and take it away at the same time. Somehow, when I see the head of a statue with a bird on it, it seems more lively to me. But the bird's indifference to the statue, the way he just sits there completely and totally calm, goes against my intuition about birds and how they interact with humans.

Chimney

2006-09-09T16:36:00.000+02:00

If I remember right, this is a chimney from a palace I went to see in London with my Brother and his girlfriend and her family. We got to the palace 20 minutes or so before it was supposed to close and they weren't letting people in anymore. Somehow, my brother's girlfriend talked real nice and pulled the "I'm just a poor silly tourist" card and managed to get in. We rushed through in classic American style and got out before they closed. It was pretty cool... Anyway...that's what THIS is from.

Rollerblades

2006-09-08T10:14:00.000+02:00

Lately, I have been doing a lot of rollerblading, so I took a picture of my rollerblades.

Anchors Aweigh

2006-09-07T07:30:00.000+02:00

This anchor comes from Hamburg. It is huge and sits just inland from the walkway promenade along the harbor, of which I have already posted several pictures.

I really like the city of Hamburg. Actually, I really like being near the water because I loved it in Lausanne as well.

I love The Water. I love swimming, fishing, beaches, sailing, showering, rocky coasts, kayaking, tree-lined shores, lakes, skipping rocks, rivers, fountains, boats, fish, having rock throwing contests for distance, the ocean, diving, canoeing, feeding ducks, creeks, scuba diving, belly-flops, catching crawdads, walking across stones and logs trying not to get wet, feeding fish, jumping in puddles, bathing, walking in the rain, having rock tossing contests for accuracy, white-water rafting, waterfalls, playing king of the raft, cannon balls, water slides, ... I love The Water.

I think the only thing 'water' I could do without is Kiddie Pools and I don't think that counts because their pee and poop and diaper-debris content is higher than their water content.

Baustelle

2006-09-06T09:42:00.000+02:00

It's from Switzerland. I just like the way it looks. Construction is a facinating and important thing to me.

Today is Wednesday!

Bis dann! Tschüss!

Ah, what a spot...

2006-09-05T09:30:00.000+02:00

I'll tell you when I get 'round that corner.

2006-09-04T07:36:00.000+02:00

Soap

2006-09-03T08:24:00.000+02:00

This picture is from Lausanne as well. There was a street vendor selling soap. A lot of soap. I thought I recognized the guy and almost said hello, but then I remembered the first rule of fight club, so I just took a picture of his soap and walked away.

The only thing I have to say about soap is that I have this one memory of soap. My mom buys, on occasion, this certain flavor of body soap. I think it comes from one of those "bed, bath & beyond" or "linens and things" type of stores. It was translucent blue, I think. Maybe green. A couple of times, I was forced to use it. The smell is supposed to be good, but it is so strong and so vile that the two times I used it, I nearly vomitted right there, in the shower. Fortunately, I never smelled it on one of my family members or anyone else who used it. It's alright if other people use this soap, but I have to be careful or my shower may turn into a shower and a kotz. And no body benefits from that.

Kills

2006-09-02T11:10:00.000+02:00

Smoking Kills. European cigarette packages have incredible labels. They say awesome things on them like "Smoking kills", "Smoking is deadly", and "Smoking may lead to a slow and painful death." (Some of those are translated from German.) It doesn't matter... People still smoke like chimneys. I think that is a complex cultural difference between the US and Europe that has so many levels I will probably never be able to describe it. I'm sure there are elements of the American I'm-not-capable-of-being-responsible-for-my-own-actions attitude involved. There need to be 300 word warnings in little letters on the package. The warning probably has to be in standardized language to be legally significant. Here, its clear. "Oh! - this product, in very simple language, will kill me. That's ok. I understand and accept responsibility for my actions."

It's probably also got to do with the If-we-don't-talk-about-it-its-not-true attitude. "It's not labelled as deadly poisonous in a way that is visible from 20 feet away, so it must not be deadly poisonous." The same attitude is evident in the way families deal with issues. "We don't talk to our daughter about sex, so its safe to assume they are not having it." "We don't talk to our parents about their marital problems, so obviously everything is fine." Don't ask-don't tell.

Alright, well, I have really gotten on my little soap box there... We have our stupid little cultural issues, but its not like its any better that Europeans are so open about the fact that smoking kills and yet THEY STILL DO IT! Not only do they still do it, there are very few laws (becoming popular now in the US) to protect the second-hand smoker. And just because you are open to talk about sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll doesn't mean that its ok to do all of them in every situation.

I have been reading a book called "Bush, Baseball, and Barbeque: The 39 1/2 Biases About The United States". It's a really interesting book written by a European about the way Europeans see the US. It also points the finger in both directions. It reminds me of some of the things about the US I had forgotten in taking a 'European' point of view. (Here, European point of view means everything about the US is bad.) I feel like its giving me a much more realistic handle on my feelings towards US culture and politics. Lots of what we do is not perfect (what country does everything perfect?), and yet, a lot of what we do, really isn't all that bad. Anyway, I don't know if there is an English edition, but I would certainly recommend you read it. If you want to read it in German, I will gladly lend it to you as soon as I am finished.

Alright, so I don't know how it happened; I didn't want to write much for this picture but I did anyway. I am frustrated with my photos of late and I don't know exactly why. They feel lame and boring and stale. I am going to have to do some soul-searching to figure out why they suck so much. I'll get back to you when I know and continue to give you the best I can until then. See you tomorrow.

Favorite Kind of Spot

2006-09-01T08:03:00.000+02:00

I really, really like this spot under the willow tree. It's by the water, which I love, and it's in the shade, which is nice on my favorite kind of day (sunny). I need these kind of places sometimes. A nice, quiet place to sit alone with my thoughts, maybe with a friend to chat or just enjoy the silence together. Its a great spot to sit and read a book, to sketch, to write, to think and philosophize.

With the right kind of tree, I would probably still try to climb it. I love to climb. To sit up in the branches and see the tree and the ground and the surroundings from a different perspective.

Moral of the story...Living in the city and not having access to a car to take me away, I miss nature quite a bit sometimes. I think I need to go back to the Harz Mountains for a nice hike.

The Arch

2006-08-31T12:32:00.000+02:00

This is the St. Louis Arch. I took this picture when I went to STL with the trainee pool back in January. Wow...it seems like so long ago, but it was only a couple months. It was the last time I have been to the States, too.

I love it here, but I am ready for a visit back to the motherland. Really, the thing I want is to not miss my buddy's wedding at the end of September. I really, really want to be there for that. It would be great if I could make it back for that and stay for about 3 weeks. Then I could go to my University's homecoming and see a lot of my friends who will graduate this year. And I would not miss a chance to go to Lobster Battle 4 in Louisville. I think it would be an exceptional trip. Maybe something will happen and all the cards will fall into place in the next couple days and it will work out perfectly that way. I find it hard to be that optimistic...

The Tube

2006-08-30T09:35:00.000+02:00

My brain wanted to come up with something profound for an entry for this photo, but I got nothin'. Life is awesome. It feels like a subway train gone off its tracks.

Which, in a round-about way, reminds me of a dream I always had as a kid. Not a dream while I was sleeping, something I wanted really badly. I always wanted a car with a big drill on the front. One of the badguys in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had one of those and I wanted one so badly. I remember being 9 or 10 years old and being soooo pissed that I couldn't have one. And, in my mind, the reason I couldn't have one is because I couldn't figure out a good way to get the dirt from in front of me to behind me. I already understood the basic principle of conservation of drill-debris. When you drill something, it doesn't disappear and you can't just compress it in front of your little drill car forever.

For those of you unfamiliar with the TMNT or this particular vehicle, I found this image online to share with you what I'm talking about.

I WANTED THAT SOOOOOO BAD!!! But I was forever tormented by the fact that those little treads on the outside would run into dirt because there was nothing in front of them removing the dirt. So awesome, but poorly designed.

Anyway, I thought of that because a subway train couldn't go very far off the tracks if it didn't have one of those attached to the front of it. One of those and an automatic track-layer. Or a drill on the front and emergency tires that would inflate around all the wheels so that when it wasn't on steel rails, it could drive off-road.

In fact, my guess would be, the sole reason subway trains don't have one of those drills on the front and emergency auto-inflate off-road tires, is for safety; it decreases the chances of running off the rails.

Man, I still want one. Maybe I can go down to the Mercedes dealership and test drive one.

Power Tower

2006-08-29T07:45:00.000+02:00

From back in the days of the Schützenfest, here is a picture of the Power Tower. I love the festivals! I really like the fact that there are festivals so often here and I love what the festivals are, but I really want to make it back to the States for a Lobster Battle and I want to go to some rib festivals, both the one in Toledo and the one in St. Louis. It's perfect! I love festivals, I love beer, and I love ribs! Not necessarily in that order, but its a perfect combination! Now I'm all excited for ribs, beer, and festivals and I probably won't be having any of them for quite some time. Maybe I'll try to dream about them for a couple minutes. I just hope there will be no snakes in this dream. Only Festival, Friends, Ribs, and some Beer.

Path

2006-08-28T08:25:00.000+02:00

It's my mom's birthday today. Happy Birthday, Mom! You're the best mom I've ever had!

Its very difficult for me to tell what is the way right now. There are so many 'options' and I am doing my best to follow the 'right' one. I always feel like I'm waiting right now, but I think there is a lot to be gained from this important experience of my life as well. It's just really hard because it's not what is commonly accepted as a step forward in one's life.

I had a strange dream last night. If any of you have heard about any of my dreams, you know that strange is 'par for the course' with me and dreams. Maybe one of you can tell me what it means.

So here's the setup, the background information that the dreamer automatically knows when the dream starts. I am in a speedboat. Above me is a hot air balloon. There is a rope going from the hot air balloon to me then further in front of me where it is tied to a snake. A very, very poisonous snake. In the dream it was called a Black Adder. Whether that really exists, I do not know. Also on a similar rope, from the balloon to my boat and on in front, was a small dog, used as "bait" for the snake. We, me and my family and some other people who were with us, were trying to use the dog and the snake to find something. I have no idea what it was we were seeking. But I was driving the boat. I drove it through a house that was flooded, then out a window and off a second story(European, third story US) balcony where I landed in a flooded alley behind the house. Then I followed the dog and snake further and we wound up inside of another house. Here I followed the snake and dog down a wooden staircase to a basement full of kitsch. The snake decided to go antique shopping instead of lead us where we wanted to go; he got himself inside of an old piece of junk in the basement, a coffee can from the 1850's or something like that. I had to pull him out. When I did, he bit me. I was taken out of the boat and taken up to a non-flooded bedroom where some more people were waiting to help me.

When I got up there, I could already feel the effects of the snake venom. My jaws were clenching together and I couldn't open my mouth. I asked, through closed teeth, for help from one of the three guys in the bedroom who I somehow knew were my brothers, even though they were clearly middle eastern. Maybe I was also middle eastern in the dream. I asked them to help me, so they laid me down on a bed in the room. My whole body ached from the bite. Then the pain started to go away in my feet and hands. Then, I tried to rub my face, but when I brought my hand to my face, it just flopped down and smacked me in the head. I realized that the pain was gone because my hands and feet were paralyzed. I couldn't move them. I got really scared and asked me brothers for help. (These are obviously not my real brothers because there were three of them and I only have two brothers.) One of them grabbed a knife and came over to me. He put it to my chest and I screamed. "Stop! What are you doing?!? Help me, don't kill me!" He just looked at me and grinned and said, "This is the only help I will give you." Two or three others in the room with me were laying on other beds, moaning and whining through clenched teeth, unable to move. He went back and sat down, but I realized the paralysis was creeping further. I couldn't feel up to my knees or my elbows anymore. I was going to die there, lying in this bed, unable to move or feel anything. I was terrified. Fortunately, the dream ended with the only pain being that in my jaw from the muscles being clenched sooooo tightly.

My dreams are very weird, but very real. I could feel the pain in my jaw and I could feel how tight it was. Probably you have similar experience with your dreams. One time, I had a dream and I got stabbed in the chest. I could physically feel the pain in my chest as I lay there with a knife in my heart. It was unbelievably real. That was the only dream I think I have ever actually died in. I didn't wake up until after I was dead that time. Freaky...

Water Throw

2006-08-27T08:39:00.000+02:00

King and I went photographing around Hannover yesterday. In the Altstadt, there is this fountain with these three spinning balls and lots of water spraying straight up in the air. Well, as you can see, I tried to capture the water being thrown off of one of the spinning balls. I think it looks pretty cool. It reminds me of a woman's shampoo commercial. I can't remember which one it is, or if there are perhaps multiple commercial with similar scenes, but I'm talking about the scene where the girl swings her head so her hair flies off her head, kinda. See what I mean?

Angry Vulture

2006-08-26T09:48:00.000+02:00

Following yesterday's "Bird" theme, I present to you this picture of a vulture ruffling his feathers. I took this one when I was in Belgium at the castle in Ghent. There were several birds of prey, Raptors, if you will.

I think after yesterday's long musings, I'm spent. I'll be saving up for another long entry, probably in a couple days but I make no promises (or threats, depending on your perspective, I guess.)

Self-Cleaning Duck Technology

2006-08-25T09:53:00.000+02:00

I love this picture of this duck. Caught in motion as he dries his wings after cleaning himself in the water. (You don't know that, obviously, except that I just told you.) It also looks like he could be taking off or landing...who knows... except that I just told you. Anyway, most of today's writing has nothing to do with this duck, has something to do with another duck, but mostly has nothing to do with ducks at all.

I went yesterday for a ride on rollerblades. I wound up far, far away on the other side of the city. I found a nice little canal and sat down for a while with my thoughts, a bit of music, and all the pebbles I could ever possibly want to throw into the water. It was heavenly.

Regarding my thoughts: Basically, I was just being whiney about my opportunities for growth in my life right now. Reminds me of a Barenaked Ladies song: "If you think growing up is tough, you're just not grown up enough." Obviously, I have some growing up to do. I really have a lot of great chances now that I didn't have or would never have seen a couple months ago.

Regarding the music: I listened to William Shatner and Outkast while I was there. I also took the opporunity to listen to no music. All three of these were great. I am a big fan of the "Speakerboxx" album by Outkast, it speaks to my ghetto side. Haha... that's hilarious, considering I'm probably one of the 'whitest' guys you'll ever meet. OK, 'whitest' american you'll meet. Willy S is probably not always the best thing to listen to because his music is really quite depressing, albeit funny. And the silence was fantastic. It really took me farther from the city than I actually was and I really need that sometimes.

Regarding the pebbles: Ducks are stupid. I sat on the bank of this canal and threw pebbles in the water for a long time...probably nearly 2 hours. At least 4 times during these 2 hours, ducks came over to me and tried to eat the rocks as I threw them. The problem was not so much that the ducks thought from a great distance that I was throwing food, the problem was that the same group of ducks came 4 times to try to eat the rocks.

Also, the rocks really got me thinking about being a kid and how my dad taught me to skip rocks and how as a child, he would always take my brothers and I to lakes or creeks or rivers and skip rocks or have rock throwing contests. I think he still owes my brother 10 bucks from the time at a lake in Michigan when Kurt threw the rock further than my dad. Oh was he pissed... I don't think we had any contests after that. The follow-up thought that I had was that I want to make sure I remember to teach my kids how to skip rocks some day. Its an important ability.

Tavelling together

2006-08-24T08:56:00.000+02:00

While walking through one of the more crowded squares that I could find in Lausanne, I saw these two just resting on the stairs of a church. So I made a photo. It looks like a good place to relax with someone and watch the people walking past, performing in the street, or taking photos while birds crap on their shoulders (that would be me...)

...Where the Watermelons grow...

2006-08-23T09:55:00.000+02:00

::sighs:: So many lyrical references run through my head as this posting page loads and this is the one I choose when it is finally crunch time.

Anyway, a stump, hanging out in the water underneath dock, down by the bay, ...that is actually a lake. Somehow, its tranquile and I like the colors.

Cracked

2006-08-22T08:40:00.000+02:00

I really like the look of these roses. They're slightly damaged, but it looks like they're just old, with wrinkly faces.

Gone

2006-08-21T10:21:00.000+02:00

I am really excited about this photograph. Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Gnarls Barkley (much to the chagrin of many of my friends [you'll get over it]) and one of the songs, "Gone Daddy Gone", inspired me and gave me the idea for this photo. (Edit: It has been pointed out to me on a couple of occasions that "Gone Daddy Gone" is actually a Violent Femmes song and Gnarls Barkley covered it.) You can read the full lyrics here, but the most fitting part would probably be this section:

"Beautiful girl, lovely dress,
Where she is now I can only guess.

Cuz its gone daddy gone,
The love is gone.
[repeat 3x]
Cuz its gone daddy gone,
The love is gone away."

A friend of mine, being the good friend that he is, pointed out that there must be something in my life that made me want to take this sad picture. Besides the song, there is. A lot of my friends are in love related situations right now. Some are in budding relationships, some are enduring the pains of love, some are ending their relationships, some are holding out, hoping someone will feel as strongly about them as they do about that someone. There is, as always, joy and pain from love all around.

Anyway, my friend wanted to make sure I was ok; that I wasn't experiencing too much heartbreak now. And I'm not. I don't have time for such things at the moment, plus, Life is beautiful. But we got talking about breakups and heartbreak and how hard and terrible they are. But I think they are an important part of love. They make clear two of the aspects I find to be most important: you have a choice and you are suseptible.

If you didn't have a choice to commit to someone, what would be the point? If it was something you had to do, like breathing, it wouldn't be very special. Imagine if someone promised to breath for you. That wouldn't seem very special because, well, they have to. And so, you can choose not to act on your love for someone and it can really break their heart. But without that choice, it wouldn't be as special anyway.

Getting into a serious relationship makes you suseptible. Its a beautiful thing to trust someone else with your feelings like that: to trust them to be honest with you about the way that they feel, to be responsible and strong enough to be open with you and to trust you in the same. Its a big responsibility. And it can lead to a lot of pain. The fact that it can lead to such heartbreak is because it has so much power to be beautiful as well.

All that being said, I think a healthy relationship should obviously not have difficulties due to dishonesty, a lack of trust, or a lack of communication because both people hopefully understand those fundamentals that I just described.

Well, I know a couple of you are very much opposed to such cheesiness, but I wanted to share with you my inspiration for this photo.

In the words of my high school religion teacher: "Be good to each other."

Let\'s Go Sailing!

2006-08-20T10:52:00.000+02:00

So I won't be getting a job in Lausanne (yet), but I still have more pictures to post of the lake-side. It was ridiculously beautiful there. With a job, an apartment, a boat, and a camera life would have been pretty sweet there. Heck, just give me the boat and camera... OK - obviously it only seems that way because I was a tourist there, but that's what unfollowed, unrealistic dreams are all about--dreaming.

Ivy and a Red Fence

2006-08-19T09:33:00.000+02:00

Some ivy-sort-of-stuff growing on a red grid fence, clearly. I don't have anything profound to say about this one. I just think it looks cool. I like the green and red contrast...::shrugs:: It is simply pleasing to my eye.

Motion

2006-08-18T06:58:00.000+02:00

Somehow, this building gave me the feeling like it was charging forward. I guess because of the long, wide base and the tall tower in the front, it looked like some sort of animal or something to me. I still get the feeling like it is captured in forward-motion.

Again, this one is from Lausanne, Switzerland.

Clock Tower

2006-08-17T08:09:00.000+02:00

Again, this photo is from Switzerland. It's a clock tower on some really nice building. There were a lot of really nice buildings in The Swiss.

Me in a Porsche

2006-08-16T06:53:00.000+02:00

So I'm not physically IN the Porsche, but this is my reflection in the right-rear door of a Porsche Cayenne. Again, I was in Switzerland at the time, as if that really matters.

Out and About

2006-08-15T07:23:00.000+02:00

This pair was in the middle of a square in Switzerland. I like the guy's hat. I have no idea what they're doing. Maybe he was performing in the street, maybe they were just traveling through. No idea. The fact of the matter is, Kharma did not want me to take this photo. As I took it, a bird took a crap on my shoulder.

By the lake

2006-08-14T10:27:00.000+02:00

Another photo from Switzerland. This guy was just chilling by the side of the lake, reading his book, obviously. He looks so relaxed and in such a beautiful place. It makes me want to read. And be by the lake.

Swiss!

2006-08-13T10:52:00.000+02:00

As I mentioned a couple days ago, I went to Switzerland last week. I went to the city of Lausanne, on lake Genéve. It was ridiculously beautiful there. I love the water.

This photo is of some sort of metal obstruction sticking out of the water. I think it looks cool sticking up out of the water. It makes me feel relaxed and takes me back to the lake's edge. The sailboat in the background opens the idea up to me and gives me mobility. I really like the blue of the water and the mountains behind.

I have a mishmash of photos for the next couple days from Belgium, Switzerland, and from a trip around Hannover yesterday with King to make more photos.

A Tree

2006-08-12T11:05:00.000+02:00

I think its pretty clear that this is a shot from the winter-time. All the leaves are missing and that makes it clear, but I can feel the crispness of the air in looking at this, especially in the way the light hits the things around and behind the tree. This is a tree in front of the Rathaus here in Hannover. I like the snaking, wiggling ways that the branches reach for the sky. I also love trees in the winter. I like that they go through such a dramatic cycle every year. You can see their change. And they grow anew. Maybe its better to be consistent like the pine tree, but I think change is good.

I have not been as pleased with many of the selections lately as I usually am. A friend pointed out that I should be posting and writing what I want up here and not detaching myself so much from it. Anyway, the point is, I have not had as much time as I would like to spend on photography. I have a lot of shots that I have in mind that I would love to take, but I haven't had time. I'm going to try to partially rectify that today.