For most of the work day, I share my office with this short hairy girl who tends to smell a bit funny. She sleeps a lot, but is always ready to stare down any uninvited cat who has the misfortune of visiting our porch.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Get Off My Porch
Day 239
For most of the work day, I share my office with this short hairy girl who tends to smell a bit funny. She sleeps a lot, but is always ready to stare down any uninvited cat who has the misfortune of visiting our porch.
For most of the work day, I share my office with this short hairy girl who tends to smell a bit funny. She sleeps a lot, but is always ready to stare down any uninvited cat who has the misfortune of visiting our porch.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
First of First
Day 238
I blinked, and summer was over. I turned my head for a moment, and my baby boy was in first grade.
He did me proud upon returning home that afternoon:
Me: How was your day?
He: It was my best day ever [pause] of first grade.
I blinked, and summer was over. I turned my head for a moment, and my baby boy was in first grade.
He did me proud upon returning home that afternoon:
Me: How was your day?
He: It was my best day ever [pause] of first grade.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monaco Hall
Day 237
Back in 1839, Robert Mills (aka the guy who designed the Washington Monument) built Washington D.C.'s General Post Office. This is where we stayed while in DC. Luckily at some point before we arrived, it was transformed into the Hotel Monaco. A cool building in a great location. This shot was taken right outside our room, and just before I realized my key card did not work.
Back in 1839, Robert Mills (aka the guy who designed the Washington Monument) built Washington D.C.'s General Post Office. This is where we stayed while in DC. Luckily at some point before we arrived, it was transformed into the Hotel Monaco. A cool building in a great location. This shot was taken right outside our room, and just before I realized my key card did not work.
Take Me Up
Day 236
The Mrs and I stayed in DC and visited some museums we may or may not have ever visited before. This shot was taken in the National Gallery of Art, and features a sculpture by Martin Puryear. What I like about this shot is that you totally can't tell that is this a fairly big sculpture of a ladder that is hanging in the large rotunda. I took the shot, and I can't even tell.
The Mrs and I stayed in DC and visited some museums we may or may not have ever visited before. This shot was taken in the National Gallery of Art, and features a sculpture by Martin Puryear. What I like about this shot is that you totally can't tell that is this a fairly big sculpture of a ladder that is hanging in the large rotunda. I took the shot, and I can't even tell.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Castle
Day 235
The Mrs. and I travelled to DC for a photowalk organized by Trevor Carpenter. We had shot many of the same sites last September, but it was a whole different experience photowalking with over 50 fellow photographers. One thing about a group that size is that it is hard to keep together, especially after dark, so by the time I took this shot, it was just Shelley and me. That was even better.
See all of Shelley's shots starting here and the rest of mine here and the big set of many of the photowalkers here.
The Mrs. and I travelled to DC for a photowalk organized by Trevor Carpenter. We had shot many of the same sites last September, but it was a whole different experience photowalking with over 50 fellow photographers. One thing about a group that size is that it is hard to keep together, especially after dark, so by the time I took this shot, it was just Shelley and me. That was even better.
See all of Shelley's shots starting here and the rest of mine here and the big set of many of the photowalkers here.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Rainbows End
Day 234
Ella was home sick today, which meant she got to hang out on the couch, relax, and watch a bunch of TV. Sharing the sofa with her was a small rainbow cast by a prism in the nearby window. She was more than willing to let this rest on her face while I took her picture.
Ella was home sick today, which meant she got to hang out on the couch, relax, and watch a bunch of TV. Sharing the sofa with her was a small rainbow cast by a prism in the nearby window. She was more than willing to let this rest on her face while I took her picture.
Me So Hornworm
Day 233
The kids brought some new friends home with them from Grammy's house. These hornworms, aka big tomato bugs, soon found a home in the butterfly/mantis/firefly habitat. This guy, whom they've named "Grandpa" was quite cooperative, and did not mind posing on peaches rather than his native fruit.
I'm pleased with how this shot came came out, and expect I will love it for a long time.
The kids brought some new friends home with them from Grammy's house. These hornworms, aka big tomato bugs, soon found a home in the butterfly/mantis/firefly habitat. This guy, whom they've named "Grandpa" was quite cooperative, and did not mind posing on peaches rather than his native fruit.
I'm pleased with how this shot came came out, and expect I will love it for a long time.
A Marvelous Thing!
Day 232
When it is not walking down stairs or making a slinkity sound, this Slinky enjoys posing in the setting sun and reflecting. At least it is not a flower shot.
When it is not walking down stairs or making a slinkity sound, this Slinky enjoys posing in the setting sun and reflecting. At least it is not a flower shot.
Lilypads
Day 231
I've always wanted to live in a house by the water. But, I don't want to move. So, we did the next best thing - put a small pond in the backyard. If you've been watching this blog carefully, you will already have seen this pond in the background of another shot. I won't tell you which one, but will say it involves a motorcycle. This shot was taken after 11:00 PM and was made possible by some built in pond lights and a rock steady Manfrotto tripod.
I've always wanted to live in a house by the water. But, I don't want to move. So, we did the next best thing - put a small pond in the backyard. If you've been watching this blog carefully, you will already have seen this pond in the background of another shot. I won't tell you which one, but will say it involves a motorcycle. This shot was taken after 11:00 PM and was made possible by some built in pond lights and a rock steady Manfrotto tripod.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Cannonball Son
Day 230
What is better than having your own swimming pool? How about neighbors across that have an awesome pool and are cool enough to let you come swimming quite often. Thanks to this generosity, both kids have developed some (mildly) mad swimming skills this summer. Alex has gone from floaties cannonballs.
What is better than having your own swimming pool? How about neighbors across that have an awesome pool and are cool enough to let you come swimming quite often. Thanks to this generosity, both kids have developed some (mildly) mad swimming skills this summer. Alex has gone from floaties cannonballs.
Fred City Painter
Day 229
I so enjoy taking my camera around the streets of Frederick. Yes, it is a small city, but I never cease to find interesting things to photograph. This was one of many shots I got between dinner and Ben & Jerry's. I could have gotten more, but kids can not be delayed too much on their way to ice cream.
See all my photos of Frederick in this slideshow:
I so enjoy taking my camera around the streets of Frederick. Yes, it is a small city, but I never cease to find interesting things to photograph. This was one of many shots I got between dinner and Ben & Jerry's. I could have gotten more, but kids can not be delayed too much on their way to ice cream.
See all my photos of Frederick in this slideshow:
Monday, August 18, 2008
One of Many
Day 228
Yes. I am off the flower wagon. Again. I think I need to figure out where I put that blue bottle.
Yes. I am off the flower wagon. Again. I think I need to figure out where I put that blue bottle.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Pillar of the City
Day 227
One more shot of New York City. This is the giant post office just outside Penn Station. Thanks to my newly acquired subway savvy, I got to the station with some time before my train home, and I remembered this shot from NYNY.
One more shot of New York City. This is the giant post office just outside Penn Station. Thanks to my newly acquired subway savvy, I got to the station with some time before my train home, and I remembered this shot from NYNY.
FDNY Ten House
Day 226
After another day working in NYC office, I walked down to Ground Zero. It is an interesting experience, to say the least. To someone who does not remember what the area looked like 7 years ago, it might seem like just another really large construction project. Of course, there is much more to it than that.
One thing that bothered me was seeing several people posing their children by the fence, telling them to smile, and taking their picture. What are they going to do with these shots? Show them to their friends back home and say "Oh, don't Jimmy and Susie look so cute here on the site of one our nation's biggest tragedies?" Sigh. There were so many people here that make me proud to be an American in the exact way that these people don't.
To focus on those that did us all proud, this is Ten House which is the fire station is directly across from the site. They lost six firefighters on September 11th and the fire station was nearly destroyed. In the weeks following, Ten House was used as a rest and recuperation station as well as a command post for fire department operations at the site.
After another day working in NYC office, I walked down to Ground Zero. It is an interesting experience, to say the least. To someone who does not remember what the area looked like 7 years ago, it might seem like just another really large construction project. Of course, there is much more to it than that.
One thing that bothered me was seeing several people posing their children by the fence, telling them to smile, and taking their picture. What are they going to do with these shots? Show them to their friends back home and say "Oh, don't Jimmy and Susie look so cute here on the site of one our nation's biggest tragedies?" Sigh. There were so many people here that make me proud to be an American in the exact way that these people don't.
To focus on those that did us all proud, this is Ten House which is the fire station is directly across from the site. They lost six firefighters on September 11th and the fire station was nearly destroyed. In the weeks following, Ten House was used as a rest and recuperation station as well as a command post for fire department operations at the site.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The One Where I Time Travel
Day 225
While walking back to my hotel, I noticed a side street was was all lit up by lights on the ground and from above. I walked down to investigate and realized that all the cars parked along the street were about as old as I am. It turns out I had gone back in time to 1973. Well, not really. What was going on was they were filming a new TV show called Life on Mars in which the main character somehow gets transported back in time to 1973. Even so, this was close enough to time travel for my imagination.
Whole set here.
While walking back to my hotel, I noticed a side street was was all lit up by lights on the ground and from above. I walked down to investigate and realized that all the cars parked along the street were about as old as I am. It turns out I had gone back in time to 1973. Well, not really. What was going on was they were filming a new TV show called Life on Mars in which the main character somehow gets transported back in time to 1973. Even so, this was close enough to time travel for my imagination.
Whole set here.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Long Day
Day 224
Even though I work from home, there are times when I have to go into the office. Since I live in Maryland and the office is in Manhattan, it makes for a long commute. Add to that nearly a half day of work (by half day, I mean 12 hours), and you have a very tired Andy arriving at the hotel at 11:30 PM. With just a half hour to go in this day, I sadly realized that I was the most interesting thing in the room, so here I am.
Even though I work from home, there are times when I have to go into the office. Since I live in Maryland and the office is in Manhattan, it makes for a long commute. Add to that nearly a half day of work (by half day, I mean 12 hours), and you have a very tired Andy arriving at the hotel at 11:30 PM. With just a half hour to go in this day, I sadly realized that I was the most interesting thing in the room, so here I am.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Doctors Jones
Day 223
Indiana Jones is big in my house right now. He's also small in my house, in the form of a Lego minifig. Here he is with his father riding past the waterfalls trying to escape the Nazis. By Nazis, I mean Slobber Bob (from Day 222) who would like to drool on them.
Indiana Jones is big in my house right now. He's also small in my house, in the form of a Lego minifig. Here he is with his father riding past the waterfalls trying to escape the Nazis. By Nazis, I mean Slobber Bob (from Day 222) who would like to drool on them.
Slobber Bob
Day 222
This little guy is staying at my house this week, which is more than I can say for me. As house guests go, he is not too bad. I'm sure he'll be glad when his family comes home to get him, but in the meantime he's having a little vacation of his own.
This little guy is staying at my house this week, which is more than I can say for me. As house guests go, he is not too bad. I'm sure he'll be glad when his family comes home to get him, but in the meantime he's having a little vacation of his own.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Stars and Bars
Day 221
I wish I was the kind of guy that could walk up to a stranger and ask him what his story was. We drove past this man standing on a corner of Black Mountain, proudly carrying the Confederate Flag. I lived in the South long enough to know that the Civil War is still a big deal there. I've often seen Southerners displaying this flag, but they never looked like this man. Since I didn't ask him, we can only wonder why.
I wish I was the kind of guy that could walk up to a stranger and ask him what his story was. We drove past this man standing on a corner of Black Mountain, proudly carrying the Confederate Flag. I lived in the South long enough to know that the Civil War is still a big deal there. I've often seen Southerners displaying this flag, but they never looked like this man. Since I didn't ask him, we can only wonder why.
Barrels of Fun
Day 220
On this day we toured Biltmore. This shot is from their winery, but the real story was in the house. There is a big sign when you go in (after paying your $47) that says "No Photography". Despite this, I just had to take a shot of the indoor bowling alley in the basement. A fellow guest, a mid-40 something Southern Stepford bot drawled to me "You know, you are not allowed to take pictures here." Somewhat sheepishly I said that I did know. She then said "The light from the flash destroys things." When I informed her that I was not using flash, she said "Well, it still destroys things." Gotta love that!
On this day we toured Biltmore. This shot is from their winery, but the real story was in the house. There is a big sign when you go in (after paying your $47) that says "No Photography". Despite this, I just had to take a shot of the indoor bowling alley in the basement. A fellow guest, a mid-40 something Southern Stepford bot drawled to me "You know, you are not allowed to take pictures here." Somewhat sheepishly I said that I did know. She then said "The light from the flash destroys things." When I informed her that I was not using flash, she said "Well, it still destroys things." Gotta love that!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Opposite of France
Day 218
Another shot from Black Mountain, NC. This is a weathered old wooden bench outside of the local barbershop.
Another shot from Black Mountain, NC. This is a weathered old wooden bench outside of the local barbershop.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Them Thar Hills
Day 217
Near where we were staying in Black Mountain, NC, there was an honest to goodness swimmin' hole. The other folks swimming there were proud sons and daughters of the south, and could have been straight from central casting. Also in the water were not one, but two snakes. There was some discussion about whether this fellow was a copper-head. My Parseltongue is a bit rusty, and luckily we did not find out the hard way.
Near where we were staying in Black Mountain, NC, there was an honest to goodness swimmin' hole. The other folks swimming there were proud sons and daughters of the south, and could have been straight from central casting. Also in the water were not one, but two snakes. There was some discussion about whether this fellow was a copper-head. My Parseltongue is a bit rusty, and luckily we did not find out the hard way.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Figure8
Day 216
There is a little spot in Black Mountain, NC called Lake Tomahawk, and in this small lake is a small waterwheel. It seems to be purely ornamental, but it was either this or yet another shot of butterflies.
There is a little spot in Black Mountain, NC called Lake Tomahawk, and in this small lake is a small waterwheel. It seems to be purely ornamental, but it was either this or yet another shot of butterflies.
Frog or Toad?
Day 215
This was what we call a driving day as we travelled from Adamstown, Maryland to Black Mountain, NC for the annual Roth Family vacation. Anyone who has driven 8 hours with a 6 and 4 year old know that this is not likely to inspire photography. I did witness a beautiful sunset from the Bi-Lo parking lot, but my camera was in my car which was on a pizza run at the time. Luckily, this guy was waiting in the driveway for us when we got back to the house.
BTW - cmpiper says this is a toad.
This was what we call a driving day as we travelled from Adamstown, Maryland to Black Mountain, NC for the annual Roth Family vacation. Anyone who has driven 8 hours with a 6 and 4 year old know that this is not likely to inspire photography. I did witness a beautiful sunset from the Bi-Lo parking lot, but my camera was in my car which was on a pizza run at the time. Luckily, this guy was waiting in the driveway for us when we got back to the house.
BTW - cmpiper says this is a toad.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Metro-Active
Day 214
One of the nicest trains is the train that takes you home. This is not that train. This is a train that was going the other way while I was waiting for the train to take me home. The stability of this long exposure was courtesy of a Metro station trash can.
One of the nicest trains is the train that takes you home. This is not that train. This is a train that was going the other way while I was waiting for the train to take me home. The stability of this long exposure was courtesy of a Metro station trash can.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Pause to Reflect
Day 213
As I was on my way to another busy day of work in the AdaptiveBlue New York office, I took a moment to watch this woman put a nice clean on her shop window. While I was watching her, she took a moment to enjoy the reflected view of the city.
As I was on my way to another busy day of work in the AdaptiveBlue New York office, I took a moment to watch this woman put a nice clean on her shop window. While I was watching her, she took a moment to enjoy the reflected view of the city.
Reflections of Italy
Day 212
Though I am told that Little Italy in New York City is only for tourists, the whole time I was there taking pictures, I did not see any. The also have tasty Gelato, which is Italian for ice cream.
Though I am told that Little Italy in New York City is only for tourists, the whole time I was there taking pictures, I did not see any. The also have tasty Gelato, which is Italian for ice cream.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Waiting Tables
Day 211
I found myself at Union Station in Washington DC with a little time to kill before my train to New York. It was a good place to have some time and a camera. Since it was early enough in the morning, these tables had nothing better than to do than pose for me.
I found myself at Union Station in Washington DC with a little time to kill before my train to New York. It was a good place to have some time and a camera. Since it was early enough in the morning, these tables had nothing better than to do than pose for me.
Haircut Day
Day 210
Since my barber license was revoked after one time giving the boy a "1 all around", we needed to get our haircuts the more traditional way by paying someone with actual haircutting skills. This was the day. From a Roth365 standpoint, this day was significant in that it marks the first time I have used an iPhone here. I'm sure Steve Jobs is very excited
Since my barber license was revoked after one time giving the boy a "1 all around", we needed to get our haircuts the more traditional way by paying someone with actual haircutting skills. This was the day. From a Roth365 standpoint, this day was significant in that it marks the first time I have used an iPhone here. I'm sure Steve Jobs is very excited
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