2010 on Multer family website

Hidden Half Dome

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yosemite Coyotes

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Before we ever got into Yosemite National Park we spotted this coyote perched on top of a mossy rock framed by branches. He seemed so peaceful siting there, he didn’t even seem to mind me watching him. He looked very healthy for a coyote. He looked so fluffy and welcoming, I really would have liked to pet him if he wasn’t a wild animal. So instead I just enjoyed his beauty from a safe distance.

Let the Sun Shine In

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sun beams are an amazing thing, the mood created by sun shining through the craggy branches of a tree is haunting in its beauty. Like the claws of some old creature trying to snuff out the sun but it cannot succeed in blocking out the light from the sun. To stand in the sun’s beams and just bask in the glory that is the natural world is the closest a person can be to enlightenment. When you stand in the light shining between a monsters fingers, what will you find in the sun’s revealing eyes?

Creeper Photo: Little Snow Dancer

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Snow is such a magical thing, I wish that I had gotten to go to the snow more often as a child myself to experience the wonder of snow. Like this little girl, dancing and running in the snow. There is such innocence in just playing around in the snow. She and her little brother where running around just having fun with each other by the ski lift. It is refreshing to know that people, whether just children or not, can appreciate the innocence that nature provides.

Yosemite Sunset

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

No sunset is ever the same, even just one sunset can be portrayed in a thousand different ways. As a photographer it is your job to take something normal and everyday like a sunset and transform it into something new and exciting. I try to do this as often as I can because I sure do love sunset pictures.

Bird Shots

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most difficult and frustrating shots for me is trying to get good pictures of birds. It drives me crazy trying to get a good bird shot because they are very hard to get.

Birds are always high up in trees so if you can get close to them it is a ridiculously bad angle on the bird and therefore a worthless shot. Sometimes you get lucky and the weird angles work like in this shot of a bald eagle I got in Michigan where the angle from underneath is actually really nice because it gives an inside view of the eagle’s body. However, most of the time it just turns out flat and boring as you get a picture of the birds butt. And no one wants to see that.
If the bird isn’t up in a tree seemingly miles away from you, then it is at a good level angle. Sounds good right? not really because it flies away as soon as you get to an acceptable distance from it to be able to take a decent shot. You think you are blessed with a good level shot of the bird but as you stealthily creep closer to where the bird is to get the shot, it gives you that I am watching you look, then flies away before you can get the shot. Devious little creatures i saw, very devious. They know exactly what you want and tease you with their beauty just to take it away. That is so frustrating when you think you got lucky but it just flies away. I can’t tell you how many miniature hissy fits I have had over trying to get bird shots.

Let me just say to all those people who get amazing bird shots out there, first of all I envy you. Second of all you must be photography gods or extremely lucky because for me at least it is near impossible to get bird shots.

Travel Update: Yosemite

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My mom and I on our road trip to Yosemite saw many interesting things and actually had a lot of luck with wildlife on the ride up, however you will have to wait for those stories. Yes I know I am evil, lets just call it a cliffhanger, high-five, then walk away.

We were hoping there would be lots of snow in Yosemite but there was surprisingly little. There was a lot of interesting fog and mist that added another dimension to my photography. It provided an intriguing experience to experiment with photography. It was breath-taking, the beautiful sites all over the park that made both of us sad that we only two days in total for our trip. We made the most of it though, running around after wildlife and chasing reflections in frozen rivers. It was a lot of fun and the little dose of adventure that I was yearning for.

Why I Love Otters

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Otters are definitely one of my favorite animals along with hedgehogs and ferrets. They are beyond adorable and are so fuzzy and tranquil looking. I have been trying for quite some time to get some halfway decent photos of some sea otters since I already got some good river otter photos. I decided that sea otters are much cuter than river otters. Sea otters just have such a cuteness about them, and how can you not love an animal that floats around on its back with stubby little arms.

Travel Update: Yosemite

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My mom and I are heading out to Yosemite for a short trip before Christmas. I am hoping to see lots of snow even though it says it will just be raining. I have been yearning for some new adventures and haven’t been to Yosemite since seventh grade. So adventure here we come. Hiking , maybe cross country skiing, and lots of photos. Stay tuned for photos! See you all in a couple of days.

Reach

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Reflection

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Ascension

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Words Within

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Can you see me between the lines of this poem
Peaking out behind the imposing columns
Of the words that I have created
Yet which are slowly uncreating me.

Can you find me in the contours of every word
Molding my body to shape of the letters
That makes up my very essence, my very soul
They are my children that have one by one left me.

Can you search for me when I am lost in this forest of words
When they consume me and leave me for dead
Will you be there waiting to help pick up the ruin of who I have become
Or will I be left alone with the whispers of the words begging to be born.

Fallen Leaves

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Winter’s Embrace

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I am tired now let me sleep
The little girl says in a voice scarred
By winters claws in her throat
Not yet, not quite yet
Our feet drag in the snow
Her little hand held loosely in my own
If I can not feel my own hand
How am I supposed to keep track of hers
I feel her hands slipping frequently
From within my grasp
To hang limp by her sides
They drag her down
She is so little
So fragile I have to take care of her
But even as I think this
I feel my eyelids dragging too
We are dying
And I know this
I wonder if she knows too

Rogue

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

She leans into the mirror
Closer and closer
Until they are almost one
She purses her lips
As she slowly opens
A tube of bright red lipstick
She watches with reverence
And a humble respect
The monolith of red
Emerge like a sword
From its sheath
On the tube it says rogue
Like the rebel has become
As she brushes it across her lips
Soft as a feather
Like a paintbrush
Stringing out a line of calligraphy
On the most pure of white paper
She stays for a moment
As she always does
Looking her reflection in the eye
Her eyes burn like emeralds
A fire of ambition
With pursed red lips
And the smallest of smiles
She is ready to conquer
To never loose control
Of her life ever again
Now she is ready to face the world
With her lips bathed in red
The face of a new woman
The only traces of the old
Are exposed like roses
On the petals of her lips
The blood of the disposed of
Her old dead self
The self who used to look in the mirror
To hollow eyes
And bruises on her face
No longer is it her own blood
That lingers on her lips
But the bright red paint
Of everything she has overcome
They ask her why she does it
But they can’t understand
How far she tries to bury
The woman she once was
The weak one who was beaten
In her place stands a warrior
Fierce and strong
The trophies of her battles
Laid down layer by layer
On her lips
The blood of those she has defeated
And the blood she has spilt herself
She is the rogue
With the warriors seal
Painted on her lips
She faces each day
Knowing that finally she can defeat it

Earth Works

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

On a field trip with the other IB art students at my school we went on an adventure to Pebble Beach near Pigeon Point Lighthouse to do some earth work artwork. It was a lot of fun, some people did works inspired by the wonderful Andy Goldsworthy, and others just had a lot of fun being creative by using only things found on the beach.

My favorite piece was my friend Hailey’s earthwork which she made out of snail shells she found on the beach. It reminded me of Andy Goldsworthy a lot and was beautiful.

Hidden Hearts

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

She leaves her hearts
In the strangest of places
Hidden around the world
Each heart for its owner
Who lost it long ago
But she kept them safe
In the dark of the night
Making sure their fire
Never truly died
Keeping them alive
In the darkest of hours
Nursing them back to life
After they were broken
After they were discarded
With the drop of a hat
She is the keeper of the hearts
Holding each within her own
Waiting on the outskirts
For when it is finally time
To return them to their owners
The empty ones
The ones without purpose
Living a meaningless life
She waits ever patient
The unsung hero of hearts
Who keeps the fire of life burning
In this ever darkening world
As long as the hidden hearts remain
There is hope for humanity

Raindrops

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sit With Me

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Come sit with me in the dark
Let me introduce you
A first acquaintance
That quickly becomes
A long drawn out partnership
With a parasite
A monkey you can’t
Seem to get off your back
Sit me with
Stand with me
Cry with me
Laugh with me
In darkness
This is a whole new world
Where Hell
Is only Hell
No heaven behind
Closed off gates
And a smiling face
Is the one you must beware
Shake hands
Politely speak to one another
Soft drums beat near by
Where children giggle
Pointing at you
Staring at you
With eyes to big
And too dark
Sitting here
Does it make you nervous
You seem nervous
You shouldn’t be
This is home
Welcome back son
The lost child
Long returned home
We’ve been waiting
Sighing out each breath
Into darkness
Where words fall
From mouths
So uncouth and unforgiving
An ugly world full of beauty
A contradictory that has
No limitations or boundaries
Where no ends meet
The path just ends
From the corners
You are watched
Stalked day and night
By what
You may never know
Every time the lights go out
You know I am waiting
Waiting just for you
I have lingered on the outside
Watching from the sidelines
But not for long
So come sit with me
In the dark
Where secrets are told
And lies are whispered
And eyes are always looking
Welcome home
Make sure to shut the door
Behind you tight
Don’t let the darkness out

Creeper Photo: Apple Mullet

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I think it is tragically cute when children have mullets. Either that child’s hair just grew in strangely, which I can emphasize with because that was my case as well. (I had a bowl-shaped cut for the longest time because my hair would not grow, and yes I looked like a boy). Or else for some demented reason, the parents thought it would be adorable if their child had a mullet. The answer to that is no, even though children can pull off a mullet it is ill-advised. It is hard not to laugh when you see a kid with a mullet, but this child was adorable and laughable.

Adversary

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I find you dull and inconsistent
You find me aloof and contrived
We find each other irritated
By one another
We see each other
More often than we both please
Catching each others eyes
As we turn around corners
Trying to avoid eye contact
When it is inevitable
We always find ourselves
Face to face with the things we hate
The things we fear and wish never would be
But yet here they are
Opposites of nothing
Similar in absence
Meaningless in all
I find you heartbreaking
You find me despairing
Yet we are the same
The face in the mirror
You wish you couldn’t see
The devil on your shoulder
Who told you who to be
You are my adversary
Yet you are me
But every day I realize
Too long I have been my own enemy

Illumination

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hospital Room (Butterfly)

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Winter is waiting
Like an old hospital room
White and clean
Yet so foreboding
They will wash the walls
Of my presence
Scrub away
Until there is nothing left of me
Strip down my pictures
Replace them with plaster
A life cast of me
Molded too tight
Until I cannot breathe
Suffocating and gasping for air
Inside a white washed room
Sterilized of life
Where dolls sit
With clairvoyant glassy eyes
Of Ovid’s butterfly
Fluttering helplessly
Settling down
In a flourish of color
Only to die slowly
Caught in the grip
Of Winter’s cold fist
Such an absence
Such a silence
It deafens me
Echoing off white walls
The screams of the plastered casts
Of those who came before me
Faces protruding like the gates of hell
Leaving me too blind to see
Staring blankly
At the horror before me
I wonder why I am here
Why I wound up
In this white washed room
Suffocating in a prison
With no windows
No sound
Except the noise of madness
And the sound
Of a rotting brain
As the butterfly takes its last gasps
You left me here
To slowly decay
I watch the butterfly
Curl, wither, and deform
From the beauty it had been
Watching my fate
Unfurl before me
With a merciless slowness
I am waiting now
For the white to capture me
To whisk me away
Into some fairytale dream
A reprieve of this white washed room
But the butterfly’s ashes
Lay around me
Staining my palms
It will never leave me
Winter is here
With its worn cold hands
I refuse to go with you
But I cannot stay
Take me with you butterfly
For where I am going
I hoped I would never be
See you on the other side
Of this damned eternity
For now I will hope for a better destiny
And try to avoid the inevitable
By hiding behind the mask
Of a butterfly’s face
In plain sight
A flourish of color in a white room
Waiting for fate to find me

Twisted Twister

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It seems as if all of the most childish and supposedly innocent things are the most twisted. One of the most twisted is the kids game Twister. It seems so innocent, but it actually is a perverse and awkward game unlike any other. Hidden under the guise of childhood innocence, it is deviously deceptive in its twisted ways.

Case and point, need I say more? Yes, I do. The main problem about this game is it’s total lack of boundary space. There is no such thing as personal space in this game, with arms and legs crossing and criss-crossing across numerous people. Nothing is sacred.

Reeds and Greens

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

At Natural Bridges State Park in California there is a spectacular little lagoon that looks like the ground it is so filled with mosses. The entire water is green and looks solid enough to walk on even though there are ducks swimming in it. Life seems to spring from it, with long stretching reeds that reach outward like arms and old logs reposing in the green water. There is something about this green lagoon that is eerie and beautiful, maybe it is the illusion, or maybe it is just the presence of life all around. I hope to go back very soon and see it again.

Creeper Photo: Eye Contact

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Many people when they see my creeper photos either think it is totally strange or very interesting. One of the questions I get most often is what if they see you taking the picture? For most people, I take every possible precaution to make sure they don’t see. If they do see me there is a special tactic I imploy to sooth their suspicion.

If you notice you have been spotted, don’t run away in fear of being called out. Most people will not call you out, so keep it cool and they will just give you a weird look then walk away. People are not very confrontational and if you keep it cool nothing will happen. Most people assume they are being paranoid and don’t do anything about it.
Occasionally though, they will call you out. So if a person seems a little peeved here is my strategy. Still, do not run away. Stay put and then put your camera up again like you are going to take another photo and wait till the are out of the frame and take a new photo. Make a real spectacle of what you are doing and make it as apparent as possible that your intent for that picture was not the person. Once they see you do this, they will not do anything about it because they assume that you were taking a picture of what is behind them and they just happen to be in the shot. They never think they they are the shot.

So, disaster averted and the world does not end. If those don’t work, then run. However, with children I let them see that I am taking their picture. Like this little girl, children make some of the most amazing eye contact with strangers and in that moment of eye contact is a connection like you are peering into their life. Their eyes, like this little girls beautiful blue eyes, become a window into who they are. Even though I will never know who these kids become, for just a single moment it feels like I do know.

The Unsuspected Place

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This picture is at Pictured Rocks National Park in Northern Michigan. In a place of such pristine beauty, were the sandstone rock walls stand like monoliths looming over Lake Superior, there is wonder in everything. Most people would expect a picture of these cliffs, but my favorite shot when I was there, was not of the towering monoliths or the emerald green waters, but of the forest hidden behind it all. People will tell you where to find the most beautiful sights in places like this, but the real beauty is found in the unspoken places. Down the little untreaded paths were no ranger or tour guide will lead you. It is up to you to discover it and keep the little wonder a secret in your heart. Find your own beauty, mine lies in the forest. Where the trees are white as snow and the ground is red with fallen leaves and pines. This is were I find beauty, in the unsuspected place.

Tulip Tears

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Crossing names out of address books
After showers patter on a closed coffin
Just a passing moment gone
Putting down the pencil
To look at the rain as it shifts
Dancing in front of the window
As the drops send ripples outward
Pirouetting hand in hand with the grass
as each petal bends slightly under the weight
The water pulling its face down like a tear drop
The face turned upward catches the rain
Between the lines in your face
Catching in the corner of your lips
As a smile sneaks its way to your face
The rain brushes your face
With the tenderness of a lovers embrace
Sliding down cheeks so the tears don’t show
You face the sky alone
With forgotten names rolling off of you
Falling into muddied puddles
Never to be recovered, never to be remembered
Sifting into the soil, becoming part of the earth
Like seeds weaving into the ground
Returning home from life
To the warm embrace of the world’s womb
Wrapped in a veil of the earth’s tears
From the earth but not of the earth
Not yet, for now you rest among the tulips
A shimmering rain drop
Sending ripples into dreams
Into the minds of those who never knew you
Dancing with the grass
I still miss you
I will find you in the tulips in the earths embrace
There your name will be written again
Not in a book but in stone

Paint Balling

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For my friends seventeenth birthday we went paint balling at a paintball course over the hill. I had never done this before but it was loads of fun. It had been pouring so the course was totally muddy and I was slipping everywhere as we were running around trying not to get shot. We were on the Jeep course which had a bunch of playground pieces and a Jeep in the center of the course. We were divided up into teams and had to get ready for the fight.

Bobbing for Apples

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bobbing for apples is one of the funniest games to watch ever. Watching people vainly dunk their heads in water and try to scrounge out an apple is pretty entertaining. That being so, this games is really only entertaining when you can stand back and watch the people getting soaked and frustrated. When it is your turn, it is no longer a laughing matter. The duality of bobbing for apples, fun to watch and torture the people doing it, annoying and frustrating when you are being watched and tortured as you try to bob for an apple.

Shout Out: Philomena

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This post has been a long time coming, my shout out of the day today is Philomena! She is one of the coolest people in the world, she even has her own talk show at school called Phridays with Phil. Yes, she is that cool. She sticks with me even in my strangest of times, and loves Rocky Horror as much as me, which is quite a feat, believe me. She has sat with me in Spanish for about the past three years and has gotten me through the full IB years and many golf sessions. Yes, Philomena child, you are a wonderful person and I love you!! See you in Spanish 🙂

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

To those of you who have not seen Rocky Horror Picture Show,

SHAME ON YOU
This post probably won’t make any sense because only die-hard fans of Rocky Horror can truly understand other die-hard fans.
If you think you understand this post because you watched the Rocky Horror episode of Glee, and that is the only reason you have ever heard of Rocky Horror Picture Show, SHAME ON YOU MORE. Don’t tell me you get Rocky Horror because you saw weird people on T.V. singing along to the words, it is nowhere near the same thing. Take Glee, add more transvestites, more crudeness, nudity and make up, then, and only then, can we maybe start to talk.

Let me explain first the long months of hoping and planing that went into us doing this. I have been dying to see the midnight showing ever since I first became a die-hard fan of Rocky Horror. Going to this made my life in unexplainable ways. We didn’t get to go to the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday but we were able to get tickets for the Saturday night show which was a huge relief. We were so close to not getting in at all, I would have been heart-broken. But we got in and saw it at last. Failure avoided.

Adobe Doorway

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Driving through the Arizona deserts and the flatlands around Utah, we found a little turquoise stand amongst precariously perched rock pilings. There were also the remains of an old adobe house, it had no roof, no floors, nothing except for a turquoise framed door and window. This was one of my favorite places that we stopped at during our road trip. It felt like an entirely different world. A place of red sand, monstrous rock pilings, and windows within windows that let us look into this strange alien place. There is something haunting in this forgotten building and the lonely doorway left behind. Looking through those windows you can see the world the way it once was, before grand cities or electronics. Just the simplicity of nature.

Rocky Horror Picture Show FAIL

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tonight my friends and I were going to the midnight showing of Rocky Horror picture show. We got all dressed up, I even had an afro going because I was Magenta. However it was all sold out tonight. So…

FAIL

We did get tickets for tomorrows show however so that’s awesome! So take two tomorrow, stay tuned for the epic photos of us dressed up.

Creeper Photo: You Know You’re in Montana When…

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I have had a myriad of experiences with dogs on my many road trips across the country including this one. This picture really epitomizes Montana for me, a woman pulled into her local post office on a four-wheeler with her big dog patiently waiting for her on the back. Basically, you know you’re in the middle of nowhere Montana when you see people riding around town in four wheelers. It is kind of like how you know you’re in Michigan when you see that tractors are basically the only cars on the road for miles. Let me just say, it is beyond annoying to drive behind a tractor, one you can’t see around it, two it goes about five miles per hour on flat roads. Don’t get me started on up hill roads.

Lemon Water

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I have been having requests to re-post the lemon water rant lately, so why not. This was one of my very first rants and I need to bring back the rants so here you go! There will be more to come.

I really, really hate it when at a restaurant they put lemon slices into your glasses of water. It ruins the water entirely.

I have four theories as to why someone might commit this heinous crime.

Write in Pen

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Write in Pen
He says blandly
I look up surprised
What?
Always use a pen
Pencils are worthless
He blows out smoke
From a drooping mouth
Pulled down by age
If you want your work
To be serious
Write in pen
All else will be forgotten
If it can be erased,
It will be erased.

I look at the old pencil
Sitting in my hands
It had grown small
And grungy
From repeated and relentless use
But I always write in pencil
I say as I watch
His indifference
Smirking at me
Over the top
Of a wilted old newspaper
He shrugs
Then you will be forgotten
That was all he said
As he folded his paper
Dropped his cigarette
Snuffing it out
With the toe
Of his fancy shoes
I told myself to forget him
His words meant nothing
Just smoke and mirrors
From a strange old man
Yet here I am writing in pen

Missing Begonia

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Missing the beautiful Begonia Festival.

Halloween: Lady GaGa

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yes ladies and gents it is Halloween time again, and what does this mean? Normally, jack-o-lanterns, candy, and costumes. This year is different however, this year Halloween screams LADY GAGA! The costume to be, it seems, is Lady Gaga. Of course there are many to choose from, like the soda can outfits like this one.

Very interesting indeed, and many other strange and mysterious outfits that Lady Gaga seems to constantly be pulling out of her magician’s hat. Everyone is going gaga for be GaGa. It is understandable, she is a pretty cool chick with some crazy costumes. I know I am going to go sit on the sidewalk and count all the different GaGa’s roaming the street in a half crazed stupor dressed like…. strumpets. (Look it up, its a Shakespeare word, yes I am a geek deal with it.)

Mussels

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Iridescent Bubbles

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There is something mystical about bubbles. They feel as if each has its own little world hidden away inside of their iridescent centers. I love how they capture the color of what is around them and reflect it back at you. It is amazing and whimsical to watch bubbles just drifting away in the breeze. I recommend it on a hard day. Each bubble consumes your worries and carries them away. It is a life saver, try it some time.

Nike Women’s Half Marathon Finisher!

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Last weekend my mom and I went to San Francisco for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Saturday we spent at the expo gathering as many free goodies as we could. This consisted of about ten Pom drinks, a billion Luna bars and Ghiradelli chocolates (yes they give you chocolate!). We visited Niketown to get some awesome marathon merchandise and find our name on the wall. There is a wall filled with all of the names of the women participating in the Marathon. It took forever to find ours but we eventually did.

Nike Women’s Half Marathon

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tomorrow my mom and I are heading up to San Francisco for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. This is my first time ever participating in this even and I am really excited and a little nervous. The expo is tomorrow and we get to explore San Francisco before we do the actual race on Sunday. I will update the posts tomorrow and the day of the race. Stay tuned for photos soon!

Snowy Egret

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Peace Now

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Nike Women’s Half Marathon

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dear Friends and Family,

Hey everyone! I will be walking/running my first half marathon, next week in San Francisco. This will be my first time participating in the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. This event is to raise awareness and funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

There are so many people whose lives are touched by this illness and this is my way of doing my part. I am writing to see if I might gain your financial support. A personal donation or sponsorship from you at any level will be much appreciated. I hope you will help me support this amazing cause. Thank you all!

Time Again

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I will find the time for you again
Another time
When time has stretched out
Like that old black cat
Just laying
Always laying there
When time has come back
Like the birds to my feeder
When time comes back
It will leave again
Flowing back home
Then out again
Time has drifted by my window
Knocking quietly
But leaves as I crack open my window
I leave a note for her
A little song
That says
When you come back
Come back again
I will be waiting
Waiting for you my friend
I seal my window
With that little scrap of paper
Left on the outside
Fluttering dangerously in the breeze
But it never flies away
It is still waiting
For time
Time to come back again
To cross this side of the tracks
And face me again
Why did you leave
Are the words
Words that left holes
In frosted glass
Words whispered
In a desperate time
That won’t leave now
Even though their meaning has
The cat is still stretched out
The birds have left the feeder
The love note has blown away
And the window is shut
But where are you?

Open Studios: Valri Peyser

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My aunt, Valri Peyser, is doing Open Studios this weekend. She has work that includes fabulous paintings with marvelous colors.

She also has a line of painted wine bottles, with patterns, faces, and wonderful colors.

Creeper Photo: Baby Doll

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You were adorable with your little baby doll. I think you parents owned the shop you were outside of playing. You were talking with your little doll and then slapped it. I wonder what you were speaking of with the plastic face of an American doll. What did you have to speak about and why did it make you angry? Then you simply proceeded to drool on yourself. It was an interesting interaction to witness. Interesting indeed.

Sari Colors

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This was a strange combination of the elegant colors of a sari and the manufactured colors of a theme park. The bubble-gum pinks and orange creamsicle with the elegance of a deep blue. Yes, this is where cultures meet and ideas clash. I rather enjoy this, when things don’t work together but somehow manage to co-exist. In the small place where these two things meet there is an understanding, a harmony that is not found anywhere else.

Growing

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A Loosing Bet

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If I bet on Humanity
I would be betting on a dream
An idea that never truly formed
I would be betting on hope
On thin air
Grasping for the wisps
Of a shadow slipping away
The half drawn portrait
of a beautiful woman
Not finished, never finished
Betting on an abstract thing
That could have been
But never was

If I bet on Humanity
I would be a poor woman
With empty pockets
But a heart full of hope
Left with nothing but everything
Betting on the underdog
Knowing it will loose
But hoping
Only hoping
They will pull through in the end
But never do

Creeper Photo: Lips

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

What first caught my attention, believe it or not, was your tattoo on your neck of a pair of lips. I am not sure why it wasn’t your hair that caught my attention because it is so noticeable. Then of course I noticed all of your piercings, you ears, nose, and your upper lip. That was the strange one, a small ring inside your upper lip that showed only when you smiled. I thought that was an interesting concept. Did you do that so only the people who made you smile would get to see this hidden symbol of happiness? You were intriguing overall and it took me a while to get this shot because you disappeared for some amount of time in the New Leaf. I finally asked you for your picture. You seemed a little confused, but who wouldn’t be? Thanks for letting me take your picture, thanks for smiling.

Ghosts

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This was definitely one of my favorite pictures from my road trip to Michigan this year. There were old dock pilings that went on forever until they disappeared into the mist. The water was os placid and clear that the pilings reflected upon themselves causing a near ghostly effect.

The juxtaposition of this dead ghostly image with the fresh, new green plant growing out of it was splendid. The idea of old things growing into the new. This haunting and wonderful picture reminds me just how much I love driving across the country. You never know what sort of strange sights you will see in the most obscure of places. I wish I was out exploring instead of stressing over school. But hey, no use wishing away life, the next chances I get, I will be on the road again.

Passion Flower

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Backpacking with Nick in Sequoia - Day 2

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It was a tough night yesterday, and I knew I had to get Nick to lower elevation to help him feel better. So it’s back down the trail to see how he feels when we get to the Pear Lake turnoff. Plenty of great views along the way, and I’m happy to see Nick starting to feel better. Unfortunately Nick is in no mood for another tough night in the back country, so it’s back to the car for the both of us. I’m looking forward to our next trip, with a little more time to acclimate.

Creeper photo: Caution Tape

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You were definitely my favorite outfit that I saw at the Lady GaGa Concert. You basically only had on underwear and caution tape. Not including the sunglasses and the soda cans in your hair. It was amazing to see how willing people where to bear all in front of a massive crowd of strangers in the name of their dedication to a musical artist. Whatever your motivation behind this outfit, I enjoyed it. Also, kudos for putting yourself out there, maybe it would be best to do it in a slightly different way than walking around basically nude. Still, kudos 😀

Backpacking with Nick in Sequoia - Day 1

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It’s been a long time since I’ve gone backpacking with any of the kids, and this fall it’s Nick’s turn to enjoy the great outdoors with his grizzly dad. We’re headed to a new hike for me out in Sequoia National Park. We drove out early in hopes of getting a permit for one of the nicer areas. We decided on the Lakes Trail route out to Alta Peak for the first night, then over to Pear Lakes for the second night. It was a dusty hike with a good amount of climbing, up through Panther Gap and on to Mehrten Meadow. Unfortunately I didn’t anticipate that Nick might get hit with altitude issues, so we took it easy and setup camp in the Meadow. It was a tough night for him getting up every hour or so.

Blackberry

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photo: Mask

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I couldn’t really tell what your float was about but the people on it with you were very interesting. Your mask was enchanting something utterly demonic about it and at the same time it was almost childish. It matched your tattoo very well on your arm. You seemed like a stoic protector over your float. Like a silent ghost set down there, you hardly moved, just stared forward with your mask unmoving. You captivated me, thanks for being there, and thanks for the mask.

Begonia Festival Part 2

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There were also big begonia floating parade boats that people created. They showed them off as they slowly tooled down the river to be judged. There were some very nice ones that I really enjoyed like the octopus float.

I also enjoyed the none to pleased looking mermaids on the float, especially the little mermaid inside of the clam. The others were really cool as well and the people manning them were very interesting as well.

Begonia Festival Part 1

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This was the first year I got to attend the Capitola Begonia Festival.

This first part consisted of the Sand Castle Contest. Some of them were quite interesting.

My favorites where the giant great white sand castle, and the giant sand sculpture of Poseidon and the BP oil spill.

This one was definitely the best, it had a message about the BP Oil Spill and of course the quality of the sculpture was amazing. The eyes and teeth made out of shells where so amazing and life-like. The seaweed oil spill was an interesting and unique touch as well. It was the last one on the beach and looking out over the whole crowd was quite a spectacle.

One Man’s Trash…

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Harmony

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There is a relationship between all living things, a dependence, a connection that you have to look very closely to find. Yet at times it is so obvious you would have to be blind not to notice. A bee’s romance with the flower it seeks life from. A child’s connection to its mother as they grow old together with a bond that surpasses that of genetics. Or the look in an animals eye as it looks upon a potential predator but neither make a menacing move. It is a dance, a balance between one beings life and another’s. Can you see it, the connection, the relationships of the world around you. If you can’t now, start looking before it is too late to look at the harmony in the world around you. It is beautiful.

Re-Post: Black Bear

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In my earlier travel update on our trip to Yellowstone this summer and the black bear we saw walking right next to the road. I wasn’t very smart about it and was running down the road after him to get good pictures along with a missive crowd of people. This are the best photos of him that I thought were worth re-posting on their own. So here he is.

Where the Old Meets the New

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Out in Cooke City Montana there is an old house. It has new glass in the windows, it’s doors hang on rusted hinges, the inside was long ago torn out and slowly accumulated junk within, and the house itself has been weathered by time so much that it now more resembles an old haunted house. I love this house. Every time I see it I have to take a picture. This year it was different. The ground around the old broken down house was covered in purple flowers. Slowly but surely all that was old becomes new and all that is new will soon be old. It just takes time, all things change in time. You will only see it though if you are willing to wait. So wait for change and bring in the new from the old and maybe even the old from the new.

Devils Postpile, Mono Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was a long drive up to Bishop, but the route up Highway 95 and then over to Bishop was really beautiful. We start nice the day early and head for Mammoth Lakes and Devils Postpile for some excellent hiking. We checked out the rock formations from above and below, and then hiked out to Rainbow Falls.

Our next stop is Mono Lake.

And then it’s up and over Tioga Pass into Yosemite via Tuolumne Meadows. I’ve really wanted to do some backpacking out this way, but permits are always so tough to come by. One of these days I’m thinking I’ll have to do the Pacific Crest Trail from here down to Whitney. One of these days.

A nice morning in the Grand Canyon

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We arrived at the North Rim yesterday, and this morning it’s pretty cold, but that certainly doesn’t hinder any of the beauty of this place. Charlotte and I hike around the edge of the canyon, but we don’t have a lot of time today as we’ve got a long drive up to Bishop for our last night of the road trip.

Creeper Photo: Mantra

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You were sitting out by the Boardwalk when a friend and I walked by. You had a mantra on a cardboard sign in front of you. It was nice to read it and talk with you. Thanks for the mantra and the picture, keep Santa Cruz weird.

Hiking Bryce Canyon, then off to the North Rim

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We arrived in Bryce Canyon yesterday, so it’s time to dive into a new National Park to see what it has to offer. It’s a spectacular morning and a good chance to capture some great lighting.

This is easily the most unique hike I’ve ever done. Everywhere you look there are amazing rock formations. The colors and quiet trails lead you on a wonderfully meandering path. We spend most of the day exploring as many areas as we can find.

Another hike in Zion, then it's off to Bryce

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was a great day of hiking in Zion, so this morning we’re headed to the Kolobs Canyon entrance for a hike on the Taylor Creek trail. The Double Arch Alcove at the end was an impressive sight. I hope to come back this way for some backpacking in the future. It looks like a fun multi-day hike across the park.

A little of the wildlife and wildflowers along the way.

Pretty Self-Explanatory

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hiking Zion with Charlotte

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte and I are off for a big road trip to various national parks. Our first stop is Zion. After a long drive from Santa Cruz and a peaceful hotel night just outside the park, we head to the Angels Landing hike bright and early. The only problem is that it’s actually dark outside when we start hiking. Let’s just say we’ve got a few switchbacks to traverse before getting to the top of Scout Lookout.

Love’s Shell

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There are memories now
Of a long lost love
Of a passion who could have been
But never was
Resting in her eyes
You can see the place where
His kisses
Left a burned out hole
In her heart
Fragile like a robin’s egg
So nurtured so loved
But it shattered on the ground
She held her face so daintily once
But no more
Now she hangs it low
As if it is too heavy
To hold up on her own
Once she had a fire
That burned in her eyes
But now all that is left
Are the blackened coals
Left behind
Smoldering and decaying
Do you know her name
Once she was love
Once she was loved
Once she was a lover
But now she is no one
Love had carved out her heart
And left her empty inside
Now she is a shell
Of her beauty
Of her spirit
That along with love
Ever slowly died

1 Year Anniversary

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

So it is official now, I have had this blog up and running for a whole year. This time last year I decided that I would publish my own work and share what I thought and how I felt with the world. I just wanted to take a quick look back at some of my favorite works I have done, photographs and writing a like.

Of course there was the Shoe Tree from last years road trip that we found out in Oregon. The dawn of the creeper photos early on in the beginning of the blog. Who could forget the somewhat haunting video of Hood doing his she wolf performance. One of my favorites, the baby shoe gangster.

Rainforest Red

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The colors in the rainforest are stunning. The water and moisture bring out the color in everything making something ordinary into the most extraordinary experiences.

Rust

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photo: Do Not Enter

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There were some of the most amazing looking people at the Lady Gaga concert at HP Pavilion. She was one of the first people we saw. She had on these interesting leggings, booty shorts/ basically underwear, and was smoking a cigarette. And just as I took a picture she walked into the picture position; with the do not enter caution tape right over her crouch. I don’t think that could be any more perfect. What can I say but DO NOT ENTER!

The Old Door

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I have yet again found myself
Standing in front of the old wooden door
Once it was beautiful
But now no more
It is broken and withered
Destroyed by age
But still I remember the time
When behind that door
A life was held
Born and raised
Someone lived behind that closed door
But now they are gone
Leaving the door wide open
To let all evil inside
It is empty now
Only filled with time
The only remnant left
The old wooden door
Long ago left behind
It is hanging now
By one rusty hinge
Hidden in over grown grasses
Blowing slowly in the wind
I can’t remember the child’s name
Who once lived behind this door
No memories remain
I try to remember
But there is nothing left
Just the old wooden door
And a forgotten address

Chippies

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I always call chipmunks chippies now from a summer of hearing them being called that up in Northern Michigan. It is almost instinctual but after I saw it I always stop and wonder, did I really just call that chipmunk a chippy? Then I remember, yes, I have spent way to long using Yooper slang.

Anyway, this cute little chippy was in Yellowstone out by the confluence of the Yellowstone River and the Llamar River. He was definitely the smallest chipmunk I have ever seen. You can sort of tell by the proportion of that piece of grass to his entire body. I just love how he is precariously perched in the bush just munching away.

Avalanche Lily

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My mom and I went on a beautiful hike at Mt. Rainier, Washington. We went through a field of wild flowers like these ones, along with many lupines, and others that I cannot begin to name. Flowers light up my life 😀

Lady GaGa Concert

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I went to my first ever concert yesterday with my lovely friends Golnoosh and Hailey. Lady GaGa is amazing! It was such a good show because it wasn’t just a singer doing their songs, or even just an amazing performer, it was that she interacted with the audience on such a personal level. She talked with the audience, at one point people where even throwing their clothes on stage and she made her own outfit out of all of it. She had such personality, and not to mention her dancing and singing skills that just made such an awesome concert.

Creeper Photo: Baby Face

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This child was so beyond precious. Words almost can’t describe how cute she was. She truly was a baby of a thousand faces. The range of emotion ( and the range of positions of her hair) were phenomenal for that short amount of time.

I found her at Mt. Rainer in Washington and she killed me. Even trying to post this photos makes me almost die of laughter. Just take a second, look at her hair. Then look at her face. Now back to the hair. And finally back to the face. How can you not laugh? You made my day, you are still making my day. Thanks for the hair, and the face, and the lollipop. You’re amazing.

Guest Blogger: Books

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Books are like life, with a new chapter every day. Books are like traveling, for you visit a new place ever day. Book are like a heart that hasn’t been broken.

So here are Golnoosh and Monica’s conversation as I write…

Golnoosh: Let me play With it!!!

Monica: How do you like the underside of my bench?

Golnoosh: I feel like a cat. I cannot sleep. Ok come on. I GOT IT.

Field of Flowers

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My mom and I decided to dub North Dakota the sunflower state because all along the road we were driving on where rows and rows of sunflower fields. They were dazzling, just miles and miles it felt like were filled with the yellow faces of sunflowers. It really helped brighten up a long drive, because who won’t smile at a field of sunflowers.

13 Striped Squirrel

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This was one of the stranger looking animals that I stumbled upon on my road trip home. I nearly stepped on him while I was stalking the infamous white buffalo in Jamestown, White Cloud. I was trying to run away from packs of mosquitoes while also attempting to spy the elusive White Cloud who decided it would be a perfect to hide behind a bush as soon as I decided to show up when I saw a small movement on the ground. At first I thought it was a squirrel but it didn’t have a tail and had a bunch of these weird stripes on its back. Then I decided it had to be a chipmunk but I had never seen one like this, with that many stripes and no fluffy little tail. I started thinking that maybe it was a mutated breed between a squirrel and a chipmunk maybe with a third wheel prairie dog thing going on, just maybe. So I was confused and a little creeped out by his eyes. He had such weird black doll eyes that just sought you out no matter where you moved. It was fun though seeing an interesting and mysterious animal like this. My aunt Karen told me that it was indeed a 13 striped squirrel which was something I had never heard of before. So yea, I saw a 13 striped squirrel. Jealous much?

Creeper Photo: Red Hair

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I just loved your hair, it had such a life of it’s own and really complimented everything about you. I saw you inside and didn’t get a picture of you and I was really sad but as soon as I walked outside there you were just sitting there eating your lunch overlooking Mt. Rainier. It was perfect. The wind kept throwing your hair around and making the red really light up. Anyways I just wanted to tell you, I love your hair and don’t change it.

Travel Update: Home

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today was our last day on the road and we got home around dinner. It was a really long vacation starting on June 28, driving for a week to Upper Michigan, four weeks in Michigan one of which was in Chicago, then a week drive back. So it was a long trip and we are glad to be home. The experiences we have had are unforgettable and will stay with us forever. Glad to be home, but missing the adventures. I can’t wait to see what sort of adventures we go on next.

Travel Update: Long Beach

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday we stayed over night in Aberdeen Washington in a nice location on Heron Street. It was very aptly named because in the morning behind the hotel on a really nice water way there were tons of great blue herons flying back and forth.

I love looking at these majestic great blue herons but I have to say, blue herons make one of the most ugly calls I have ever heard from a pretty bird. It is like the sound of an animal being strangled and it is just so guttural and loud. It is a very gross sound for such a nice bird.

Travel Update: Olympic National Park and Rainforest

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We began our day yesterday in Seattle on a typical rainy over cast but wonderful day in Pike’s Place Market. The night before it had been closed so we were planning on squeezing out every drop of Seattle goodness from this brief visit. We bought all kinds of fruit including my favorite, the giant sweet Fuji apples. I have to say, Pike’s Place Market has the most amazing flowers I have ever seen. It is a feast for the eyes and the nose. It is amazing to walk through there smelling the flowers and looking at the vast variety of flowers. I would buy all of them if I could.

Travel Update: Seattle

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We started our morning out by going to Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington. We walked around the campus and enjoyed checking out the church. It was a pretty nice little school.

After that we decided to drive to Mount Rainer National Park.

After having a nice lunch overlooking Mt. Rainer we went out on a hike to Nisqually Vista trail. It was an amazing hike through a meadow of wildflowers and finally to an overlook of the Nisqually Glacier and the river that came down from it.

Travel Update: Silver Gate

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I couldn’t post last night because we were staying in Silver Gate Montana just one mile outside of the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

We started our day with the Enchanted Highway whihc is almost to the border of North Dakota and Montana. It is a thirty two mile long road that is peppered with statues ranging from ones like this to huge pheasant statues and fisherman. It i really interesting but we only saw the very begining and had to move onward to Roosevelt National Park.

Travel Update: Yellowstone

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We spent all of this morning venturing through Yellowstone National Park looking for wildlife. Before we even left the house this morning guess who showed up behind our cabin again? You guessed it, the red-tailed fox. He caught me by surprise yet again as I heard my mom yell again, There’s a coyote!

So as I frantically dashed to the car yet again to get my camera I yelled back, It’s the fox again, not a coyote!

Travel Update: North Dakota

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today was the first day of our road trip back home to Santa Cruz and we stopped for the night in Bismarck, North Dakota. Along the way during our 15 hour-long day we saw a lot of interesting things. We started out with Amnicon Falls State Park in Wisconsin which was really beautiful. The falls were really running and the water looked like a mixture of coffee and cream.

Travel Update: Heading Home

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

By 5 a.m. tomorrow morning my mom and I will be on our way back home to Santa Cruz California on a week-long road trip. We will be heading across the top of the US all the way to Seattle and then straight down to home. I am excited to be on the road again and to go home in order to see all of my friends and family.However going home is bittersweet. I will miss Bootjack dearly, its serenity, its untainted beauty, and all of the wonders of our compound. I will miss the lake and the water. I will miss the bald eagles. I will miss the flowers. I will miss the storms that come sweeping across the lake. I will miss my grandpa until I see him again. I will miss the library. I will miss everything. So thank you Bootjack for a nice summer, I will see you next year.

Shout Out: Hotel Bed Hopping

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My little brother and I were having fun jumping on hotel beds and trying to get some air-borne pictures. He was doing tricks and just having fun jumping around while I took photos.

So this is a shout out to my little brother, thanks for being weird and going along with my shenanigans all the time. Stay golden pony boy, stay golden.

P.S. whenever you landed on the bed it looked like you were being eaten by the mattress or as if a black hole was sucking you in that happened to be at the center of the bed.

Yellow Mushroom

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My mom and I happened upon this peculiar yellow mushroom on a hike above the Hungarian Falls in Upper Michigan. It really did look fake, like a rubber mushroom.

The Horrors of Butterflies 2

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

As I said before in my earlier post, The Horrors of Butterflies, butterflies are so creepy yet so beautiful. It is this deceiving nature of the butterflies beauty that I find horrifying just how easy it is to look at a butterfly and fawn over its beauty only to realize just how truly scary looking and ugly they really are. Here are a few more photos of butterflies that illustrate not only they beauty but their ugliness as well.

Bald Eagle

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most amazing things about Michigan is the majestic bald eagle. The bald eagle is a frequent sight were I stay in upper Michigan and we love every second of it. These birds are truly amazing and beautiful. I have to say though they seem a little creepy at times because they are always so aware of your presence. Whenever I go near them they always watch me and never take their eyes off until they fly away. I love seeing them and for those of you who don’t get to see them often, here is one of my best shots of him this year for all of you to enjoy!

Creeper Photo: Dr. Pepper

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I think this photo could be a DR. Pepper advertisement or something. You were really cute and I thought it was funny the way you were sitting. You seemed like you wished you could stay right there over looking Monument Valley with your doctor pepper but when I came back all that was left of you was the empty bottle. Thanks for the photo 😀

Ode to the Out of Place Things

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There are always things in places where they don’t really belong. Take this pear for example, left half eaten on a Lake Superior shore of an old copper smelting factory. No person for miles that could have left it there, yet it looked fresh. Not even a few hours old. Just sitting perched on the edge of a sandstone wall. How did it get there, who left it and why. It doesn’t belong but it still is. This is an ode to the things that seem out-of-place, the lone person you see standing in a moving crowd, a child’s shoe in the middle of a market place, all of the things that stand out like something colored in a world of greys, notice them before they all disappear into the ordinary.

Chicago River Blue

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to my Brain…

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today was an interesting day, I had an MRI. On the many avenues I have traveled down in search of a diagnosis for my unknown illness, this was the most intense of all the methods of diagnosing. It was in an open bore MRI machine but there really wasn’t anything open about it…

As the doctor was briefing me on the procedure we tells me the only side effect to inserting the contrast that has been seen is nausea and vomiting. He said it only happened in about 4 out of 300 people who had contrast injected along with the MRI procedure so I had nothing to worry about. He also told me that if I got nauseated that I would throw up, no question about it. I would definitely throw up if I didn’t feel good. As soon as he said this I knew I would be one of those people who got sick. He injected the contrast and lo and behold I just looked at him and said, I am going throw up. So he ran over and took of all the head-gear and gave me a basket. I almost threw up but actually didn’t which was surprising. He just laughed and said, you proved me wrong, you are the only one who didn’t throw up after feeling sick.

Creeper Photo: Cow Man

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

At first I wasn’t sure what you were doing but then I saw the little wooden cow sculpture in your hands. You were making a wooden carving of the cow sculpture. I wonder what made you choose this sculpture as your inspiration. It seems a little bit strange to have a sculpture as the model for a sculpture, but who am I to judge. You were interesting to watch as you marked the places on your little cow that needed work and more carving. You were so serious and intent on your work, it is nice to see an artist so committed to their work. Keep it up cow man.

Catching Up: Chicago

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For the last couple of days I have been in Chicago to celebrate my grandmothers 70th birthday with my dad’s side of the family. My mom, brother, and I drove down to Chicago and we met the rest of our family there. We stayed right downtown and it was really nice but ridiculously hot and humid out. So here is the recap of our days happenings.

The first day after we arrived we walked around downtown Chicago after a few interesting incidents…. like Gabe humping the entering Wisconsin sign. Yes my little brother is strange.

Travel Update: Chicago

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Basically I am way to tired to post anything decent so…. sorry. Here is the re-cap. Yesterday my mom, little brother and I drove down to Chicago for my grandmother’s 70th birthday. It is kind of a big family reunion with all of the family from my dad’s side. We have been walking, taking tours, visiting museums, and of course eating lots of food. I am tired now, and don’t feel good so I will give you a random photo from my road trip to mask the lack of attention to the actual writing within this post.

Hungarian Falls

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My mom and I took a hike up to Hungarian falls in Hubbell, Michigan this morning. It was really nice. There are two sets of falls and we visited both. The first was a this big pool covered in greenery and ferns.

Then we headed around the top of the falls seeing many others on our way. It was a really nice hike and the water was beautiful. I really enjoyed the greenery and the beautiful Michigan woods.

Lighthouse Jump

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Right near our homes in Bootjack is White City, a park on the Lake Superior with an amazing pier stretching out between the Portage Channel and the vast depths of Lake Superior. There is an interesting lighthouse at the end of the pier that some of my cousins like to jump off of; It is really high up, and the water is really cold.

My cousin brought up KT and I got some good pictures of her leaping off the lighthouse. She definitely had the best form and was the most graceful.

Green Window Watching

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Lizard at Horseshoe Bend

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Say hello to my new best friend. I found him on a hike down to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona. We had to walk on a long desert sand path to get to the spectacular view. On our way there, right on the side of the path was this little guy. I freaked out when I saw this and scrambled for my telephoto lens thinking he was about to bolt off and I couldn’t miss this shot.

Guess What

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Guess what this is a picture of :D. This was taken in a rest stop parking lot in Minnesota (after my fall). I loved this a lot, the wet ground made them look really cool. Yeah for randomness!!

I will post the answer tomorrow as a comment for this post but I am sure you all will figure if out pretty quickly.

Bootjack Sunset

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Just going to throw this out there, Bootjack has the best sunsets. No competition. Every single night there is an amazing sunset just waiting outside of our window. It truly is spectacular. We have a front row seat every night of a sunset over a beautiful lake. Let me re-iterate. Every night, beautiful sunset, right outside. We are very lucky to have this spectacular natural wonder be our guest every night. We really enjoy it and I want all of you to enjoy it as well.

Yellow Yucca

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In the Navajo National Monument there were these really intriguing yellow yucca plants with this cool little wiry curls breaking off from the plants limbs. I thought this was an interesting hairy little plant. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Creeper Photo: Water Catcher

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You were adorable. It is amazing to see how such a simple thing as a spraying water fountain can amuse and bring happiness to someone. You were having so much fun trying to grab the water as it shot up. You seemed to have so much fun even when you saw that the water simply slipped away because you knew in a few seconds more chances to catch it would arise time and time again. It was refreshing to see you having fun even though you never really could succeed.

Road Trip: Bootjack

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today was our last day on the road. We finally arrived safe and sound, just slightly busted up (me) ready for fun in Michigan. We started out our day with a nice ride along the Lake Superior coast in Ashland. We passed some really cool old dock pilings out in the water mostly covered by fog.

We are tired but very glad to be at our home away from home with out family. I am glad to have the library and the time to relax finally.

Road Trip: Ashland

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today was an entire day of nothing. We went through Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and finally here in Ashland, Wisconsin. It rained almost the entire day and there was nothing to take pictures of at all. The only real event was me slipping in the rain.

Yes, a little know fact about me (unless you know me really well) is that I am a total klutz. So

Me + Rain + Sandals + Slippery Surfaces = bad fall

The Horrors of Butterflies

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Butterflies are crafty creatures. They look so beautiful and graceful but when you look at them closely they are horrifying. Butterflies must be one of the scariest looking animals up close. Like this one here that I found in the Navajo National Monument in Arizona feeding on a Paintbrush flower. I was trying really hard to get a photo of him and was so jazzed when I got these but when I looked at them up close I realized they look like monsters. No wonder Mothra in Godzilla was so scary, it is the same sort of thing. Nature is a very deceiving thing some of the cutest or prettiest things are really scary. I don’t think I can ever look at butterflies the same again.

Road Trip: Boulder

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today was the last day of anything really interesting at all sadly. The first interesting note of our day was some wildlife in an odd place. As we were packing the car my mom noticed a coyote walking on a running path right towards us. The coyote just strolled through the parking lot right by us, took a quick glance and nonchalantly moved onward.

We proceeded to start our day out in Colorado Springs and visited the Garden of the Gods.

Road Trip: Mesa Verde

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today was an amazing day because we spent almost the entire day checking out the different Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde. I have always wanted to see these ruins and finally I did, and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint. The first ruins we visited was the Cliff Palace ruins. This dwelling is the biggest in North America and is approximately 700 to 900 years old.

After the Cliff Palace we went to the Balcony House. This was an extremely intimidating hike for me. To get to the cliff dwellings you have to go down a huge amount of stairs and from there it gets really tricky. You have to climb up a 32 foot ladder. I am not particularly afraid of heights but I got pretty freaked out by this. It was a huge ladder over an even bigger cliff. It also didn’t help that the ladder got super heated so it burned to hold onto the rungs. By the end I was ready to freak out. Can you tell by my face that I was slightly concerned?

Road Trip: Monument Valley

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was our biggest day yet. We woke up really early to watch the sunrise on the Grand Canyon. We got the best spot, a small upraised platform of a rock that we sat on over looking Bright Angel’s Point. It was a nice sunrise but very cold out, I spotted Waldo from up there ;).

After sunrise we said goodbye to our beautiful cabin and started our long trek across Arizona to get to Mesa Verde National Park. We made a lot of little stops along our way. The first of which was the Vermillion Cliffs. They were these magnificent red rock cliffs that were gigantic.

Road Trip: Grand Canyon

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I didn’t get to post last night due to the lack of internet connection in our wonderful, western facing room in the Grand Canyon National Park. We left the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas for the peace and tranquility of Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Don’t ask me how but my mother is a miracle worker. Some how she managed to get one of the best rooms in the entire lodge which are always book a year in advance. We had a balcony that looked right over the edge of the Grand Canyon. It was beyond gorgeous.

Road Trip: Zion & KA

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We are staying another night in Vegas but during the daytime my mom and I took a day trip up to Zion National Park in Utah.

The park was really beautiful, it reminded us a lot about Yosemite in California except it was in the desert and with red rocks. We went on two hikes today, up to the lower, then upper Emerald pools and after that we headed up to the top of the park to go hike in Zion’s Narrows. It was really hot out and slightly hard to hike in but we had a lot of fun and had some great views of the park.

Road Trip 2010: Las Vegas

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Day one of my journey to Michigan by car began today at 4:30. I miss the rest of my family already and my dog. The first day of our trip ended in Las Vegas Nevada. First thing I am going to say is this: IT WAS 111 DEGREES OUT WHEN WE ENTERED NEVADA!!

I thought it being sunny was brutal but this heat was unbearable. I kept seeing cars on the side of the road overheated and I felt so horrible for those people and grateful at the same time because if we hadn’t gotten the new car that would probably be us on the side of the road. Our trip out was relatively uneventful but fun. I watched the Hangover in the car to prepare myself for staying in Caesar’s Palace.

Travel Update: Michigan Road Trip

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tomorrow morning at 4 o’clock my mom and I will be beginning again our yearly road trip to Michigan. This time around we are swinging low down to the blistering southern states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and so on. Everyday I will be updating my blog with details about our trip like Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Monument Valley and more. So stay tuned to see if I survive another road trip up to Michigan. This one is going to be long and hot but hopefully all worth it!

Woodies on the Wharf

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today I went to the Woodies on the Wharf for the first time. Sad I know, I have lived in Santa Cruz almost all of my life and I have never actually been to the Woodies on the Wharf. Let me tell you, it was mobbed. There were so many cars there. I know it is all about cars but it there were rows after rows of these awesome oldie cars, ranging from the shiniest things you will ever see to cars made out of wood and cars of every color.

Creeper Photo: Eye Contact

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You were an interesting person and made me a little sad. You felt out-of-place, almost like you were heading upstream. You were headed somewhere but I do not know where. Maybe it was the fact that you wouldn’t look anyone in the eye that caught my attention. You just kept moving with your head held down and tried to ignore the rest of the world around you. I wonder what you were trying to hide from, who you were trying to block out. I wonder if it worked.

Black Bird

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In a dark forest of old oak trees, where no human would enter there was a desperate fluttering of wings and the movement of tangled branches. A baby bird struggled to free itself from the gnarled grip of the trees limbs. It had fallen in the night from its nest and hung in the balance of life and death. Caught by the hands of an old oak tree. It hadn’t yet learned to fly so it was doomed to fall or be set free. Learn to fly fast or die trying.

Show Me

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Show me what it means to be you
Pour out your soul
Let me look into the pool
It leaves behind
What will I see in the reflection
Will it be just you
Looking back at me
With somber eyes
And thin face that doesn’t smiles
Or will I see something
I will wish I had not
A demon or just the other side
The side you never show
That hides behind you silent eyes
Just draw and let me see
What comes out to see me
Will you use black or grey
To outline your mind
Or will there be color
Spring out which
I never thought I would find
Is there something left in there
You have been hiding from me
Is there life left
In your dead eyes
Silently looking back at me
Is there love
Is there mercy
Is their feeling
Tucked away deep inside
In a place
You keep just for yourself
That you hide far from the world
Trying to protect what little
Is sacred in your heart
Will you show me
And open up you heart
Draw it
Write it
Or scream it out loud
Please just do something
So I know not to give up
So I know you’re still alive
So I know to keep digging
No matter what horrors I find
Because somewhere in there
Is the person
I once knew and loved
Please show me
What happened to you?

Bells

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Holy Cross Cemetery

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I went on a small adventure with my mom and my camera and ended up in an interesting place. I found this cemetery with one of my friends near the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter and finally returned to get a better look. This cemetery is a somewhat creepy place mainly because many of the tombs are cracked, old, and written all over. It has an extreme air of a melancholy, and forgotten place that once used to be beautiful but was left to wither in time by vandalism and time itself.

Valri Peyser: Open Studios

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My aunt Valri Peyser is an amazing artist and she is going to be a part of this next up in-coming Open Studios in October. I got to photograph some of her most recent projects she is working on that will be a part of the open studios show like these amazing decorated wine bottles.

The bottles are really amazing, each with its own personality and flare that is unique in itself. The front portrays a person ranging from a head shot to a half body portrait and the back is a beautiful pattern like flowers, stripes, dots, swirls, or any other design you can think of.

Creeper Photos: Surfer Dreads

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

To me, you were Santa Cruz. Everything that Santa Cruz stood for in my mind I saw in you. Maybe it was the dreads, or the cruiser bike you were riding but I think it was the sunglasses that made me curious. The blue reflecting glasses made you more than just a person on the street. It blocked you from me but made me see myself when I tried to look into you. It reminded me that you can never look into someone else’s eyes seeking an answer without looking into yourself first.

Suspense Movies

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I just finished watching the movie, The Road and it helped me learn something about myself:

I am horrible at watching suspense movies and I just shouldn’t do it.

Granted I can be pretty horrible at watching any movies. Yes I am one of those horrible people who talk throughout the entire movie. I just can’t help myself, I mean I sit there for two hours watching other people talk non-stop on a screen, why can’t I talk too? I am aware of my faulty logic but it makes sense in my mind. Plus I feel the need to share my thoughts about every single thing the characters say to everyone else watching the movie. People who watch movies with me understand, I am so very sorry.

Mission’s Shadows

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Confessions of an Evil Driver

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I have a confession to make, about my driving. No I am not admitting that I am a bad driver, because I am not. My confession is this:

I can be an evil driver.

I love road trips, but when you have been driving for hours in the middle of nowhere, you have to find ways to amuse and entertain yourself so you don’t go insane. My remedy? To be EVIL. When there is nothing to look at on the road except for other cars, have fun with the other cars. I am expert, or you could call me an evil genius, at being an evil driver.

Apple Tree

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I found God
Oh really, where
He was underneath
My grandpa’s old apple tree
Well isn’t that silly
Did you ask him
What he was doing
Underneath that tree
Yep
He said he was trying
To understand
Adam and Eve
I don’t know who they are
But he said they looked
Just like me
He said it made him sad
That his children
Had fallen so far away
I told him maybe
They would come back some day
Did you say anything else
I sure did
I asked about Grandpa
And my old dog Brick
God just laughed and said
They were happy here
But they missed me so
God told me
To be patient
That one-day
I would grow up
And the world would change
He said to me
That my soul
Would forever remain
Then he just got up
And smile down at me
Gave me an apple
And said one last thing
I am sorry dear child
This is the last time
You will ever see me
I have a lot of work
And no more time for play
I have to bring in Adam
And bring back Eve
Take them from the serpents grasp
So they can remember me at last
Goodbye my child
This is the last time
You will ever see me
Why I asked
But he was already gone
The little boy turned to me
Unsure and sad
Where does God go
When he leaves the apple tree
Does he find others
Or is he just too busy
I don’t know
I somberly replied
But I am sure he is watching
And making sure you’re all right

Water Lily

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There is something unspeakable beautiful about this water lily. I took this at the Mission San Antonio near King City and it was so gorgeous I had to share it with all of you. The idea of a water lily reminds me very much of that of the lotus flower. This beautiful majestic flower blooming amidst mud, dirt, and grime but yet it retains a radiant beauty that no amount of dirt can damper. Enjoy this, it stands for all of you who do not give up in the face of hardship and shine through no matter the circumstance.

Cal Poly

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I am off to go pick up my brother from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. My brother just completed his first year of college which is exciting and I am more excited to spend the summer with him after his long absence. So here we come Cal Poly, we are going to have some fun!

Gabe's SVMS graduation

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe has been very excited about moving on from Middle School to High School for some time now, and today is that day. He’s looking so fine in his new business attire, and I think he even likes the tie. His friends Joe and Connor take their turn up at the podium, while Monica the photographer works the crowd.

The big man heads up to get his diploma. A few more friends and then it’s time to party.

Guest Blogger! #2

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today I went to a high school graduation. It was pretty thrilling. I also have a new best friend. His name is Sarcasm.

He and I go everywhere together. One time, we went to a bonfire on the beach of the ocean. The party was actually not that fun. All they had to eat there was chicken, and who the heck likes chicken??????? Because my friend Sarcasm is so outspoken and hard to control, he made some hurtful but witty comments about the party and the person who threw it. Needless to say, we were shunned.

Acupuncture

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I got to experience something very new to me the other day: acupuncture. It was an interesting experience that I will probably partake in again. My homeopathic doctor recommended getting acupuncture just to see if it helped me at all, so I agreed to try it out.

It was a good experience let me say, it didn’t really hurt and was pretty soothing. I was worried when she started putting them on my face though. It is one thing being poked in the arms or legs, but your face? It was alright though. I even had one in my ear and two on the top of my head. It was strange to think about. I do feel like I have gained a new perspective though, I think I know what it feels like to be a pin cushion. I also learned that the pin in your forehead is to help relax people, I thought that was very interesting.

Little Red Balloon

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A woman stands
With a red balloon in her hand
She looks tired
And lonely
Standing there by herself
Her only company
The little red balloon
Some say she is looking
for innocence she lost long ago
Some claim she is waiting
For her little girl
To come home
Some say she is watching
For her husband to return
And others say
She is just a woman
Waiting to grow old
She had stood there
Each day
Since I can remember
Always silent
Always standing
With her little red balloon
She doesn’t approach anyone
Or utter a word
Just silently watching
For something untold

Summer Sunshine

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

SAT

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

SAT, ACT and anything of the sort = death. Sorry no time for posts, my future is in the balance.

Wolf Eyed Lover

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Oh wolf eyed lover
Look into my eyes
And know
I am not your enemy
I am a part of you
A dark soul
To complete
Your hollow entity
Dance with me
Oh wolf eyed lover
Under the dying moon
As the deserts burn
And the ashes settle
Sway with me
Like the deserts
Treasured flower
Let the moon
Bear silent witness
As the earth stands still
Oh wolf eyed lover
Howl to the moon
When I am gone
Call me back
When it has been
Far too long
You won these lands
The barren deserts
And forsaken lands
Oh wolf eyed lover
Don’t you see
It is no longer
A dog’s world
But mans
We are dying company
Hunted and alone
We can’t fight them
Off forever
Together we stand
Oh wolf eyed lover
The deserts dying flowers
Float gently to the ground
Where the ashes have settled
And there is no longer sand
Here we face the moon
As our last stand
Where once we danced
Is now a deserted land
Oh wolf eyed lover
Can’t you see
The world has moved on
And left us behind
There is no more room
For happiness and love
Only survival
In these hard times
Oh wolf eyed lover
Don’t you understand
This is the end
The separation
Of you and me
Has finally become reality
Our entity once whole
Ripped to pieces
To be no more
Oh wolf eyed lover
I will wait for you forever
Turn on eye to the desert
And one ear to the wind
To listen for your cry
Carried by the moonlight
I will dance with the moon
Wishing it was you
Oh wolf eyed lover
Save me a grave
Under the cactus tree
Where flowers fall
And the moon watches
As the dust finally settles
Together we lay
As it was meant to be
Separated by life
Brought together by death
Oh wolf eyed lover

Santa Cruz

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It is an odd thing traveling across the country because I always find myself looking for towns just like Santa Cruz. No matter where I go I always see Santa Cruz in every place I go. I love Santa Cruz because it always feels like home and I hope someday I find a place that makes me feel just as at home as my first love and home, Santa Cruz.

Bumblebee

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bees are such fascinating creatures, and beautiful ones at that. I love trying to photograph them. Thanks for sitting still just long enough for me Mr. Bumblebee!

Arachnophobia

Sun, 30 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I think it is time for me to share with you a story very near and dear to my heart; the story about why I am afraid of spiders.

Let me start off by saying that I wasn’t always afraid of spiders, I was never very keen on them but I didn’t freak out on site about them. I just thought they were disgusting. Living in a wooded area with a canyon in my backyard, naturally we have lots of spiders in our house. About every three months or so, a giant spider pops up in a very inconvenient time or place. Normally in my room and most recently in the bathroom. They just show up out of nowhere and they are ridiculously huge. Honestly, it just makes me want to yell at them “Where in God’s name have you been hiding all this time to grow that freakin big!” When I say big, I mean big. Most people don’t believe me, these guys are so big, you can’t really squish them because they would explode and create a black hole due to its collapsing mass. Seriously, they are too big to squish.

IB Orientation

Sat, 29 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I had the honor along with 16 other Full International Baccalaureate students to talk about the IB learner profiles in the new IB orientation welcoming ceremony for incoming Full IB students. This was the first year that Scotts Valley High decided to have a nice ceremony put together by the wonderful Mr. Crawford, Ms. Brooke, and Ms. Reiner. Thank you for a wonderful night.

I got to talk about how being reflective is an integral part of being an IB student because I was nominated by all of the teachers to portray that aspect of the learner profile. In a slightly cultish but fun manner we all went up one by one and lit a candle before we talked about the learner profiles. The other IB students handed the incoming IB students flowers in a welcoming gesture.

Yellowstone: Coyote Headshot

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This really is a case of saving the best for last. In February I went to Yellowstone on a photography mission where I followed coyotes, river otters, bison, elk, bighorn sheep and wolves for a week in the snow. I saved my best shot as a present for one of my very best friends. So here is the grand unveiling of my best shot: the coyote headshot.

I got this close up headshot of a coyote when we were driving along the road and happened upon a coyote trotting down the middle of the road.

Flower Light

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tips

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tree Texture

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photos: Lollipop

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I was watching you at a track meet the other day. I didn’t really notice you until you crossed under the line where discus was being thrown and your mom had to come save you from being hit by a discus. I watched you for a while after that, you seemed very attached to you lollipop. You sat there watching the discus like your mom but I could tell you weren’t really watching, you were just trying to act like your mom. IT was very amusing actually. I hope you enjoyed your lollipop and the rest of the track meet.

Amgen Tour of California San Jose

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It was a blast watching the Amgen Tour of California yesterday in Santa Cruz, and today we’re off to San Jose to watch the riders start from downtown. We get a few glimpses of Horner and Hincapie, then Gabe camps out right in front of the Saxo Bank team RV and lucks out. There’s Andy Schleck, Jens Voigt, and Fabian Cancellara. He’s even got a signed tshirt to prove it!

Pillow Flower

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This flower just looks like a big billow pillow to me. It looks so soft and welcoming I really loved it. I love flowers if you can’t tell from my other pictures. Flowers really just are fascinating because they remind me of people. No one is exactly the same, the come in different shapes, colors and sizes and each is beautiful in its own way.

Amgen Tour of California Santa Cruz

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The AMGEN Tour of California is back in Santa Cruz again this year, but this year springtime and hopefully the cold, wind, and rain will be replaced with beautiful days like today. Charlotte headed down to the finish area at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk with some friends.

While Gabe and I camped out on Bonny Doon Road to catch the riders struggling up this great climb. Gabe made a very nice ecologically correct road sign saying “Go Levi”. Meanwhile plenty of local riders headed past us to find their spot to watch the race.

The Starving Musician

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

He plays the piano
Rocking back and forth
Cradling each note
Giving life
But holding onto each
For just a single moment
Before it is released
Sent out into the cold world
To die or survive
It all lay in fate’s hands
Not his
Not anymore
The artist, the musician
With starving eyes
And frantic fingers
He swayed
With his head held back
Listening to the birth
Of each note
As it sprung forth
From nothingness
But the barren plane of his soul
He breathed life
Into each ivory key
As his fingers danced
Playing a sad
Yet beautiful song
The song of the sirens
Set out at sea
The bewitching words
Of a long forgotten curse
The notes passed through
His ragged body
Each throb of his veins
Pushed tired blood and music
That begged for life
And took everything
From it’s living master
A master who would die
For his masterpiece
With bleeding fingers
Pressed against bone keys
Each print left
On the piano
Left it’s bloodied print
On his haunted soul
But when the music
Has finally left
He has nothing
Is nothing
But a starving artist
Deprived of paint
He has nothing left
He gave it all up
For his sacred art
His Bible of notes
Gave his heart and soul
And all else he could give
But his ears to listen
And his fingers to play
As he cradled each new life
And sent it away

Prom 2010

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This last weekend was Prom for my high school. I have to say, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Prom, but I can tell you, I don’t regret going. I had a lot of fun seeing all my friends all dressed up and beautiful.

Getting ready for Prom was fun, my friends did my hair and make up and made me look pretty. I loved my dress and my shoes. Most people liked the back of my dress more than the front I think. Watching everyone hobble around in their high heels and smile for what seemed like an eternity for all the photos is something I will remember for a while. I also think I will remember for a while how much my feet hurt from standing in line for forever to get Breathalyzer.

Silicon Valley Judo clinic with Shintaro Nakano

Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I’m headed over to San Jose today for an awesome Judo clinic at Silicon Valley Judo. Japanese champion Shintaro Nakano is explaining his outstanding Seoi Nage technique to a big group of eager Judoka, including myself. Unfortunately Peel hurt himself and couldn’t participate, but my Sensei from Aptos Judo is my very capable partner.

Monica's High School prom

Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It’s Scotts Valley High School prom night, and Monica and her friends are all dressed and ready to go. First stop is a party over at Capella’s house.

Then a bunch of group shots over by the pool. I can’t believe the size of this party!

But wait, there’s more action inside the house.

Back at the school, everyone gets loaded into buses for the trip over to Monterey. A very nice, safe alternative way for everyone to get there and back safely. It’s good to see Joe here also.

Scotts Valley Grand Prix bike race

Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Scotts Valley Grand Prix is a brand new NCNCA bike race we’re very happy to see come to our area. Charlotte and her Kiwanis buddies are helping with the stage, food, and drinks.

It’s great to see Vladan out there racing for his Bike Trip team. There’s also a great Specialized presence, though it doesn’t look like Larry was able to make it to this race. A slight finish line malfunction made for an interesting lap.

Gabe's final track meet

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It’s the final track meet, and the last Gabe will ever do in Middle School. First it’s the shot put.

Then it’s over to the 400m relay.

And then one last chance at the discus record. Gabe’s happy with his throw, but the record falls to another guy on his team. Second place is a great placing.

Hurdles

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photo: The Pensive Child

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I noticed you while at a park, your were just a baby standing there all alone. You didn’t seem to have any family around, but it really didn’t seem to faze you at all. For such a small child you seemed very mature. You just stood there stoically watching all the other children play, while you stood just on the outside. Truthfully you caught my interest because even though you are just a baby, I saw myself in you. I don’t know why but you fascinated me, a child so independent, pensive, and watchful. I couldn’t help but wonder who you will grow up to be. I wonder if you will lose you watchful nature and your silent seriousness as you grow, or will you forever be that person, always on the outside watching those within the norm. For now all anyone will see is a baby in a sun dress, cute and adorable, but that isn’t what I see. I see who you can be, the potential of who you will be.

Shining

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Broken Spoke

Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I am old now and broken
travel one to many times
the unbeaten trail
now it has left me beaten
wonder what happened
in its forgotten trail
standing on a dusty path
I thought I knew
but never did
following you until the end
but I lost you along the way
I don’t remember how
or why you left me standing here
broken and betrayed
but I am still waiting
on this burning dusty day
to not feel so broken
and not feel so alone
maybe I will wait forever
just praying you will come home
praying for strength
to leave it be
for all we have
may never have been
what was meant to be

Night Light

Sun, 09 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Leave the light on for the person standing next to you. Don’t leave them in the dark even if you don’t need the light anymore. Think of the light in your life. Tell me what it is. I gave away the light. To help some one else. And the gift was squandered and ignored. Don’t waste the light. Give it shape. Give it life. Give it meaning to take away the night.

Arboretum

Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Ocean View

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In Depot Bay there were some amazing cliffs that had pockets in them. This allowed waves to spout jets of water over 60 feet high. It was amazing to see this because the wind was really going and blowing us literally off our feet while the waves crashed over the cliffs.

Snow Laden

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It is too heavy
He says
For me to carry this alone
I am slowly being buried
Don’t leave me here in the cold
What can I do
She asks
But is afraid
Carry it with me
He says
Without looking away
Make this one man’s burden
Into two
Saving me
But damning you
Do you care enough
To give yourself up for me
To be buried alive
Under the weight
Of eternity
Will you carry my burden
Until there is nothing left
Will you save me
From my curse
And damn all the rest

Wave Runner

Sun, 02 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Everyone as a kid was a wave runner. Playing tag with the in coming waves. It makes me smile to watch a little kid doing exactly what I used to do. Dancing with water on a sunny day. Sometimes you have to be reminded of what makes you happy in life. I had forgotten how much I missed that and I have to thank this kid for reminding me that you don’t have to be a little kid to be a wave runner.

Blooming

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe's track meet

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It’s another track meet over at SLV, and Gabe is working hard to break the school record. Unfortunately it’s not today.

Kid Leash

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Kid leashes drive me crazy. I don’t get it. Sure I understand that parents don’t want their kid to run away, but putting them on leash? It just seems plain wrong. Maybe I am just weird but whenever I see someone with there kid on a leash I just stop to watch. I part of me is slightly horrified but the other part (the bigger part) is laughing.

One thing that just cracks me up about these leashes is that they are disguised as cute adorable little backpacks like this one. The kid sees a fuzzy little monkey when truthfully it is a direct tie to mommy. Even when the parents are yanking the kid around I really don’t think the kid gets why he is being held back. They just don’t connect the two things and go on with life believe their parents just got them a cute backpack, not a tether.

Where Will You Turn

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

When the sun has finally fallen
And the clouds lay out of reach
Where will you turn
When open arms become traps
And smiles become masks
Where will you turn
When the world looses color
And everything fades to gray
Where will you turn
When a child cries
And no one listens
Where will you turn
When the fog is too thick to see
And the ground falls out below you
Where will you turn
When the heaviness of night weighs you down
And not even darkness can hide you
Where will you turn
When the flower blooms
But there is no beauty there
Where will you turn
When the voices of loved ones
Becomes a noise you dread
Where will you turn
When you can’t look yourself in the face
And you hate what you’ve become
Where will you turn

Corridor

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Oregon Elk

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

While driving through Oregon my mom and I happened upon many signs claiming there were elk in the area. For three days we drove through Oregon and guess what we didn’t see? ELK. So we decided the people who made those signs were liars. LIARS! We didn’t believe there were elk in Oregon at all. And you know what? We didn’t see any elk in Oregon. But we did see elk as soon as we crossed over into California in the Redwood National Park. There was a pile of elk just sitting on the side of the road. We decided Oregon sign makers are liars and California ones are not. Yeah for California.

SVEF Mt Charlie Challenge bike ride

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It’s the time of year again for everyone that rides in Scotts Valley to raise money for our local schools while enjoying our great mountain roads. This year we’ve got a few changes. Charlotte got a lot of help from Aura, Mike, and others in pulling off this great SVEF event. And this year Gabe joined me in riding the 50km route. I’ll miss doing Mt. Charlie with the usual crew, but riding with Gabe is a treat and there’s plenty of climbing to enjoy.

Altered Flower

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photo: Somersaults

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I was watching you at the beach doing somersaults. You seemed so serious about it though. It wasn’t a game I could tell. To most people a kid doing somersaults is a whimsical thing, but with you it was different. There was nothing really childish about it. I wonder why it seemed so serious a thing, maybe you aspire to be a professional gymnast one day. It made me a little sad to se you though. Have fun sometimes, it isn’t all serious business. You were at the beach, be a kid and have some fun playing in the sand. Good luck in the future and don’t forget the present on your way.

Caution in the Wind

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Otherside

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bukowski was right
With good fortune
Comes stagnation
I always thought
When fortunes comes
Knocking on my doorstep
I would open the door
Greet her as a friend
And invite her in
Into my life
Into my heart
For a long time to come
But now I find myself
Standing on the otherside
Of that door
I hear her knocking
Calling out for me
But I just stand there
Staring at the thin wall
Between me and my dreams
I pick my head up
To stare at the door
I am no longer sure
That what is on the otherside
Is what I want
She calls and beckons
Asking for an answer
But I just turn
And walk the other way
Leaving fortune to it’s own ends
Mine hasn’t come yet
I am not ready
To open that door
Maybe someday
When I become tired
Of the suffering of the world
But I know
This is were I belong
With a pen in my hand
And a burden on my shoulders
I walk away
From destiny on my doorstep
Waiting on the otherside
No I am not
Abandoning my dreams
Not at all
I have to chase them
If I don’t now
I never will
And what good
Is an unearned prize
The door remains
As it always was
Leaving destiny
On one side
And me on the
otherside

7 Mile

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday my mom and I walked from our home down to Capitola. All in all coming to a 7 mile hike. It was fun but my feet still hurt and I definitely need new shoes now. On our excursion we spotted a little lemonade stand that we decided to stop at. Fun stuff. This little girl was a adorable and I felt horrible for her because while we were there the balloons they had floated away and got caught in some trees. The poor kid started hyperventilating. It was very sad. I liked her sign…

Gradient

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Nature’s gradient is a beautiful thing. The slight variations of color that follow you through the woods. The slow transition from one thing into the next. It is everywhere, it is always changing into something better and newer.

Beach Moss

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Santa Cruz

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I love living in Santa Cruz, the people, the culture, the lifestyles. Everything about Santa Cruz is different. I love it because I enjoy people, I don’t have to go far to find a character, someone interesting to talk to, people who have lived life and want to share. There is so much potential here and that is what I love. Art lingers beneath the surface of everything. This is home.

Crossroads

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Follow me
You say as you run
But how do I know
Which way to run
When you leave me tracks
Leading in every direction
Catch me
You say with a laugh
But how can I catch you
If you were out of my grasp
So long ago
Out of reach
Out of sight
Out of my control
We are running
In two different directions
Still trying to find each other
But we are lost
Not with each other this time
But alone
I will be waiting at the crossroads
When you are ready
To come home

Shout Out: Family #2

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Meet my creepy yet lovable “family”. We spent a night running around West Cliff in Santa Cruz having fun, being teenagers, and taking pictures. I just wanted to shout out to my best friends, LOVE YOU GUYS.

I have so much fun when I am with you and you make me forget the things that make life hard. Thats what friends are for right? I am lucky to have friends like you guys. Even if Golnoosh gives me killer tackle hugs and Hailey has creeped me for nearly two years now xD you guys make my life. I hope you don’t need this post to know that though.

Acheron

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The waterfall of your heart
Is drowning me
Slowly but surely
When I think the surface is near
I find myself upside down
The mask you once wore
Is now attached to my face
When did it happen
Why didn’t I see
That you were slowly killing me
Your taint still won’t leave
Following me like a shadow
Just a step behind me
That single step
Seems to be getting closer every day
Leading me down a path
I saw but pleaded not to be
It seems my words
Meant nothing
But here I am again
Trying to escape
Your shadows tyranny
I can’t help but hate you
It isn’t your fault
I fell into your shadow
And couldn’t get out
The waterfall of your suffering
Only hid mine
Now I am suffering
While you are free
Drowning right in front of you
And you can’t see me
Through the screen of a waterfall
That never ceases
I reach out across the river Acheron
But can never really escape
You received a hand of help
Where is mine
I ask you
Where is mine
Or am I destined to forever lie
In Acheron’s wake
Drowning until you find me
In the shadow of destiny

Hiking in Carmel Valley with friends

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was a great bike ride down from Santa Cruz, but no one is excited to head back in the saddle this morning. Instead our intrepid group explores Garland Ranch park.

Charlotte and friends hiking Carmel

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I’m off for a long bike ride down to Carmel along with some friends, while Charlotte enjoys some hiking with her friends. It’s a great day for both cycling and hiking.

The cliffs and ocean along 17 Mile Drive are always fantastic. I’ve already gotten a lot of this view when we cycled past here a few hours ago.

More of that great cliff scenery.

We hooked up with the ladies in Carmel Valley where we enjoyed a nice evening at the Los Laureles Lodge, and a great dinner at Cafe Rustica. I can tell that Sally really enjoyed herself.

Seagull

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The best thing about my trip to Yellowstone is that it taught me how to understand animal body movement so I can predict what an animal is going to do and henceforth get an awesome shot of exactly what I want. Right place and the right time.

Creeper Photo: Dreadlocks

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I saw you at a Flea Market or Farmers Market in Eugene, Oregon during a big rain storm. I loved your hair, the purple looked great. I wonder what you act like, you look eccentric but when I saw you I felt that you were very level-headed and quiet. Your image conflicted with your true self and I wonder if that is true or maybe just what I thought I saw.

Oregon Sheep

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t know why but in Oregon there are so many sheep! We passed by dozens upon dozens of sheep flocks throughout Oregon. I must say they are some of the most adorable babies. They resemble my dog…

We pulled over when I spotted this bunch of sheep, they were too cute to pass by. So I hung out the window to get these pictures of the little guys and their mom. They seemed somewhat amused at the entire spectacle.

Guest Blogger!

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hi! My name is Artemis, and I am the guest blogger for today! How exciting is that! Does this annoy you that I am ending everything in an exclamation mark! Because it should! In real life, I don’t actually talk like this! I actually talk very monotone and it is quite boring and nobody listens to me wahhh wahhh well except my pet snake. His name is Pez. I picked him out from the pet store down the street when I was five, and he has been my best friend every since. One time I put him in an urn because I thought he would like it in there. He got stuck because he is a boa constrictor. I had to break the urn to get him out.

Travel Updates: Reed and Linfield

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today we started our day with my favorite college of the visit, Reed. The campus was beyond gorgeous with old brick buildings and mossy surroundings. We walked all over campus from the old dorms, to the new dorms, from hall to student center, and all around.

We stopped on a bridge to talk with a freshman Reedie to get the down low about the college. She said she loved the small classes and the way students got to explore all avenues of their passions which is something that I am really interested in. I really liked this school, I can’t wait for more information in the future. I mean seriously the school had a swing set.. I am a sucker for swings 😀

Travel Update: Oregon Colleges

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The first college we visited on our road trip through Oregon was University of Oregon. We toured around the campus while it was pouring rain outside in Eugene, Oregon. We met up with Maddy, a first year student of University of Oregon, showed us around her dorm. I really enjoyed it and was able to get a very good feeling of the school. I enjoyed it a lot. After looking around we checked out downtown Eugene, which had an amazing farmers/ craft fair going on which spanned over about three blocks. It was full of all kinds of characters and talents. I really enjoyed it, even though I was being rained on the whole time.

Travel Update: Olive Pit

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

On our road trip up to Oregon we stopped for a snack in Corning, California which proclaimed itself as the olive capital. I am a huge olive fan so I pulled off at a tourist shop full of olives of every kind. I was a kid in a candy shop… the Olive Pit.

They even had a huge sample bar for all kinds of olives from Cajun spiced, Texas hot, garlic, Kalamata, and smoked. First note, Texas spicy green olives were definitely the best, I had many, many samples of it. The woman kept eyeing me, I guess I wasn’t sneaky enough. Second note, smoked olives are disgusting. I won’t make that mistake again. They had really cool little scoopers to pick the olives out, it was quite the experience.

Travel Update: Oregon

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

So for the first part of my spring break I am going to be heading up to Portland Oregon for some college visits. My mom and I are road trippin it up and we are going to be having fun along the way.

Top on my list is Reed. I can’t wait to see it, Reed is one of my top choices at this point and I am ready to learn more.

Perspective

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Something like a pot of flowers can seem so ordinary, not because it actually is but because we have become so accustomed to it that it has lost it’s uniqueness in our eyes. In my eyes this is a crime. My job is to provide perspective to all of you, it may not be right, different, or even worth your time, but it is something to remind people that nothing is one dimensional. Here is a series of photos, all of this seemingly normal flower bouquet. (P.S. I love flowers that is why I chose them, I think they are beautiful beyond compare)

Yellowstone: The Trio

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Here is the last photo of otters while I was in Yellowstone. I saved this picture for a friend but here it is now, the trio. Three little rambunctious river otters that teased us all day and finally gave us some good pictures, they even posed.

I will miss them, I miss the quiet of Yellowstone the serenity, the wildlife, and the feeling of being a part of nature, not an adversary of it. Life seems so much simpler in the wild, yet so much more complicated. I hope I can come back again soon.

Reflection

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Even the murkiest of waters can still reveal a reflection that is true. Many people forget a major aspect of their lives and aren’t even aware of it; they forget to reflect. Not just on their actions but upon themselves. It is so easy to forget that to truly understand others, you have to first understand yourself and the only way to achieve this is through self-reflection. So I say to you, take a moment and look in a mirror, or a puddle on a rainy day like this, and take a good hard look. Not at what you look like but who you have become over time. Is it someone you like, is it something you hate? Or is it who you always said you would be? Take a look at yourself and tell me what you see.

Mary

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Mary is watching
Waiting for you
Standing ever patient
In a field of green
That never dies
Or withers with time
She stands in a place
Untouched by time
Sorrow or shame

Mary is watching
From very far away
Because the world we live in
Is to dark for her
And too unforgiving
For her to enter
So she stands
On the other side
Patiently waiting
Because she has
All the time in the world
But you don’t

The Dimmest Light

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Even the dimmest light, in the darkest of places can illuminate your way. Who lights your way? Is it a best friend, a parent, your imagination, or God? It doesn’t matter who or what your light is, follow it, because it will always lead you to brighter times.

Another Flower

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yeah I know, another flower shot. There is just something magical about flowers and how each one is so monumentally different from the next.

Yellowstone: Antelope

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Antelopes are one of the strangest looking creatures I have encountered. They appear so alien, but at times like this, so funny. I like his blue tongue…

Anyways, I love the way they look because they just have such huge eyes and amazing color patterns.

I was afraid I wasn’t going to get to see any on my trip out to Yellowstone, but on the last day we spotted some out in a field and they wound up coming right up next to the road. We got to watch them for some time jut grazing. They really are majestic and wonderful. Even though they are so simple compared to coyotes or wolves and even buffalo I still enjoy watching them.

Power to the People

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I love these photos of my little brother up in Northern Michigan while the sun is setting. They are just so intriguing. Love the lighting :D. They seem almost like they could be posters. Power to the People.

Yellowstone: Roadside Friend

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

While I was in Yellowstone, I met a new friend along the roadside. There was a coyote trotting in the middle of the road when we drove by. He would not get out of the road to let us pass. So we spent a good ten minutes with him. Every time he would move to the side of the road we would make to pass him, but he would dart out in front of us as if he was trying to keep us there. It was very strange.

Dichotomy

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My question for you today is this; do you believe in dichotomy? Are there really only two sides, two options, black or white. One side or another to choose from. Or is there a third path that is yet undiscovered that you must find before you travel.

I believe it is easier to think of the world in black and white because it makes the world a little less complicated. But that doesn’t mean it is true or right. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems, as I say and it is true. It can be hard though trying to find the third path in life. There is no denying the fact that the third road is the hardest to travel because it is unpaved. Many people believe in a dichotomous world because it is much easier to travel the well beaten path. This is not how I live, this is not how I think anyone should live.

Lock and Key

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Postcards

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

He is the one who remains
Locked in by
See through curtains
That cast shadows around him
like ghosts
And thousands of tubes
He is always alone
No one ever at his side
No family
No friends
No memories in the night
To keep him company
In the darkest hours of night
Where the ghosts are so close
And death stands at the foot
Of his skinny little bed
Telling him to come along
It is finally your time

Hidden in the Grass

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yellowstone: Coyote Rock

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We found a coyote laying down on top of a snow hatted rock that just looked really amazing. We decided that we would wait for him to stand up on top of the rock because the composition of the shot would be perfect. He seemed pretty content just laying there though, trying to take a nap.

He really was beautiful and I almost missed him. I hadn’t even noticed him at the time because I was watching another coyote out in the fields when another person pointed him out to me. It is funny how easy it is to miss things. It makes me wonder what else did I miss, what other wondrous creatures did I pass by as I was consumed by some other thing?

Limbo (The Great Divide)

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Seek out what has never been sought
Reach out and try
What fear has always stopped
Find the line between evil and divine
If you search you will find
They’re between this very thin line
I will stand perpetually
With one blind eye
Cast down on thee
And one shut tight
To seal your image away for infinity
I watched you fall
And rise again
I watched your torment and pain
As you reveled in your own sin
I stood helpless
Pulled between right and wrong
Were justice is a price
And mercy is strength less
Cross the great divide
As I reach out to you
Snatch me from Limbo’s grasp
And bring me back to you

The Broken Gate

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Saint Patrick’s Day

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You may be wondering at this point in connection to the title, why the flowers. They aren’t green, there is no leprechaun hiding inside of it, and there is no possible way this photo can be related to Saint Patrick’s Day. My response to that would be:

You are correct. There is absolutely no correlation between Saint Patrick’s Day and this flower.

The question now remains as to way I chose this picture out of all the pictures I have (and that is quiet a collection to choose from). My answer, I don’t like Saint Patrick’s Day. To me, it is pointless, almost as pointless as connecting a totally unrelated photo to an irrelevant day.

Midnight’s Child

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The moon is framed with reaching hands
Holding out waiting
To cradle the child’s leaning head
When sleep hangs
On the starry eyes
Of Midnight’s child
We will be waiting
To catch you
As you fall
To wrap you up
In lights warm embrace
To cradle the fragile
Fluttering heart of a baby bird
We will hold you tight
Until it is time
To let you go
Until your heart
Grows strong again
So close your eyes
Child of the night
We will cradle you
As you sink
Past the point
Were you can
Re-open your eyes
Lay down your head
In a cradle of hands
We will hold you
We will keep you safe
Until midnight comes again

Yellowstone: Big Horned Sheep

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

While in Yellowstone I was searching for Big Horned Sheep. We didn’t have much luck because they always sat in the same place up on top of a mountain where we couldn’t get good pictures of them. Finally on our last day though we spotted a herd of big horned sheep grazing on a hill.

They were so interesting to look at, they really are unique creatures. It was really fun to watch them chomping on grass.

Yellowstone: Color

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yellowstone is a beautiful place, it can be both a snowy wonderland and a snowy wasteland. While I was there I got to see both sides of the coin in numerous occasions. At many times it would just be huge stretches of white nothingness, empty and solitary. However at some moments you would see bright fields of red brush or a flower poking through the snow. You never know which side you will get, just cross your fingers for a wonderland where the color splashes across the snow. You will find me there waiting, as always for those who seek out the third path. Not black or white, but the colors that lie between.

Yellowstone: Elk

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The first real wildlife we happened upon in Yellowstone was the majestic elk. We spotted a group of bucks off on the side of the road in a snowy valley and decided to follow them for a bit. They had huge antlers because they hadn’t dropped them yet. It was quite the sight to see.

They were just roaming around eating grass. The funny part about going on wildlife hunts is that at first every little thing you see is amazing and you stop for an hour to watch it, but as time goes on it becomes normal. At the beginning of the trip we stopped a good hour and a half to watch these elk go around a valley and across the road, which was amazing. But my point is that by the end of the week we would drive right past them without a thought.

Yellowstone: Sound Of Silence

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Silence is not something we today hear a lot of in our lives. How many times can you just stop everything you are doing and listen. And when you listen, the only answer is silence. In Yellowstone this is a luxury I indulged in quite often. You could be walking around and just stop in the middle of nowhere. All there would be is silence.

I would hold my breath and look around, all you could hear was the sound of falling snow and the world breathing around you. It is something very special to experience. I never really was aware of just how noisy and bustling life was until I escaped to the wilderness for that week. It was actually really hard to come back to Santa Cruz, especially school because there was so much noise that it was almost suffocating.

Yellowstone: Feeding Time 2

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This time around we watched an otter hunting in a river. It was at the same place where we had spotted the otter trio except at the first otter lodge. The otter was bobbing up and down in the water trying to get some food.

There was a whole line of photographers trying to get good pictures of it,I was just one of about ten trying to score a shot. I got to talk with a man who took photography trips to Africa. He had photographed, lions, elephants and much more. It was amazing to listen to his adventures while we waited for the otter to catch something.

Yellowstone: The Trees

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

When I was in Yellowstone, I saw some of the most beautiful scenery in my whole life. Valleys of snow and brush, trees lit by fading sunlight, and the bluest sky you will ever know. Montana is called big sky country for a reason (yes I know Yellowstone is Wyoming but we stayed in Montana). This tree was so pretty even though it was barren, the sunset hit it in a beautiful light making something dead look beautiful beyond words. I wish this photo could have captured it better but here it is anyway.

Yellowstone: Feeding Time

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Feeding time is a sacred time in the snowy valleys of Yellowstone in the winter. Here, every chance at a meal is essential to survival. We were lucky enough to watch a coyote hunting around in a small valley.

Just got to say, check out the pink little feet on that vole…

Anyway, we waited around for a long time watching this coyote roaming about when he started to stop and was clearly listening. It was adorable, he would freeze and then cock his head to either side and wait then swivel to the other side. It was amazing to watch this creature hunt.

Gates of Desolation

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a place
where desolation meets
silent tranquility
here is my isolation
amidst the winter’s snow
there is no place
to bury the dead
no time or will
to dig deep
beneath the barren forsaken land
the dead lay as they fall
no ceremony as the wind
claws at your face
when you scream
no one is there to listen
in a place
riddle with unmarked graves
you walk amongst the dead
but do not know it
kill or be killed
at the Gate’s of Desolation

Art Show: My pieces

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Art Show

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This was my first year taking part in the Scotts Valley High School Art Show as an art student. I had three pieces in the show, my cigarette made out of matches and Marlboro Light packs, and the two pieces from my pencil shavings series. The whole week before hand I was just a nervous wreak and I am glad it is over. During it’s course I remembered why I do art or anything creative that I share with the public.

Gabe's wrestling meet

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe joined the wrestling team along with Doug and a few of his friends this year. He had a lot of fun with practice, but the meets were a bit too stressful for him. I’m glad I got to see one of his meets before wrestling became a thing of the past. Maybe one day he’ll be back, as he’s got some natural ability.

Sneak Peak: Yellowstone Coyotes

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sneak peek of lots more photos of coyotes coming up, because I didn’t get any great wolf photos I am making it up with great coyote shots. I know what people think,

Oh great coyotes, the lesser more whinny wolf.

Yes admit, I too have spent many hours yelling at the coyote out my window to shut up as you all know. This trip however changed that thinking. I always thought coyotes as pests but in Yellowstone they were still just such majestic beasts. They like everyone else there would have to fight for their life and had earned their living out there in Lamar Valley. Yellowstone definitely gave me a whole new light on coyotes.

Yellowstone: River Otters

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I had never seen a river otter before I went to Yellowstone, and let me say

THEY ARE ADORABLE

We heard that at the confluence of the Lamar River and the Soda Butte River in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone there were some otter lodges. So we all hiked out of the car dragging our giant cameras and all the equipment out of the car and then walked a half mile to the second otter lodge along the river. We set up the tripods and waited for quite some time when we finally spotted one otter. He was bobbing in and out of the water regularly teasing us with his appearance as we tried to catch a good picture of him. We were about to head back in when Mark turned around and saw the three otters playing.

Yellowstone: Lamar Valley

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Here is the site I got to see everyday when I was in Yellowstone. This picture can’t truly describe how beautiful this place really is. I must say it is extremely different than Santa Cruz and this is one of the hardest parts of being back home.

I keep looking outside expecting to see snow and gorgeous mountains but instead I see rain and lots of trees. I am not complaining, it is just such a shock because it is so entirely different. It really reminds me just how lucky I am to get to travel like this because I can experience all the different terrains and lifestyles of the world around me. That is why I believe it is essential to travel because people have to get out of their normal atmosphere and see the world in all of it’s different lights.

Catching Up

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

As you know I have been in Yellowstone for the past week without time or internet access to post so sorry for the lack of posts. I will be catching up and posting photos from my trip over time. Stay tuned, more photos on the way.

Adventures in Yellowstone - Day 5

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It’s our last day in Yellowstone as we head into the park once again. The antelope finally make an appearance at the entrance, as well as a hungry raven that keeps us company while we eat our lunch.

We head to Lamar Valley again to visit with the river otters. This guy shows off a fish he just caught.

We’ve got a little company while we photograph the otters. I know Monica is enjoying herself immensely.

Adventures in Yellowstone - Day 4

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was a big coyote day, and today is going to be all about river otters. Before we meet the otters, a few random shots from the hotel and wandering about in the park.

We heard the otters might be down towards Pebble Creek, and we spotted some ducks and a group of otters. They were too far for photos most of the time, but we’ll head back to Lamar Valley and their lodge to catch some good shots.

Adventures in Yellowstone - Day 3

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We had a great day in the park yesterday, but Yellowstone has another great day lined up for us again. We passed a nice group of bull elk on our drive into the park.

Today we’ll be snowshoeing in another area I really love by the confluence of the Lamar and Yellowstone rivers. Mark and Monica found a nice elk carcass that didn’t mind posing for some photos.

Adventures in Yellowstone - Day 2

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

We enjoyed yesterday in Yellowstone, but only had part of the day and didn’t explore the whole park. Today we’ll head all the way through Lamar Valley and the north eastern entrance. The road from Gardiner out to Cooke City is the only road open to cars, so we make the most of the beautiful drive. I thought I would throw some photos of the cars totally loaded with camera gear, food, and clothes that we’ll be using on our trip. Mark’s in the Outback and we’re in the Tahoe.

Adventures in Yellowstone - Day 1

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I’m off to another winter photography trip to Yellowstone, but this time Monica is joining us. She’s very excited to hone her photo skills, enjoy the wildlife, and of course have some fun in the snow. I love the new direct flight to Bozeman, then it’s an easy drive down to the hotel in Gardiner.

The elk have been waiting in Mammoth Springs for us all year.

The hot springs have changed a lot since I was last year, but the eerie feeling hasn’t. It’s good to be back, and I know Monica is totally jazzed.

Travel Update: Yellowstone

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

So here I am in wonderful, snowy, freezing, beautiful, wild, Yellowstone. Let me just start out by saying I haven’t seen snow since seventh grade so me+snow= crazy child jumping in snow banks every time I see a puddle of snow. I swear I have been reduced to a five-year old. I have been to Yellowstone twice before this, both in summer but opposite sides of the park. Never before have I gotten to see Yellowstone in such a beautiful way as this. This is my first time visiting anywhere in winter time. Let me say this:

Yellowstone Photography Trip

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For the next week I will be in northern Yellowstone on a photography mission. We will be following wolves and other wildlife in the snow from dusk till dawn each day. I will be updating hopefully with pictures and stories of my days, stay tuned. I am planning on posting some good stuff, you will just have to wait and see.

The Path We Pave

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Do you remember the path
We once walked together
It was so long ago
In a childhood dream
It led us to nowhere
But we where still happy
It didn’t matter
We had everything
We didn’t need a tour guide
Or a guiding hand
Just each other and a smile
To follow a path
Yet to be paved
Here we were safe
Amongst the guardian trees
Where the strongest voice
Was the quietest
And the world belong to our dreams
Were has it gone now
I can’t remember where it is
I lost it in time
Lead me back
To the path we dared to pave
I fear it is gone now
If it couldn’t last
The test of time
What can?
What about our dreams
Will they be forgotten to
In the end of time
Remind me
Guide me
We will find it together
And never forget
That once we walked
A path unpaved
With the world in our hands
And the future in our minds

Banana Slug

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Stoptional

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Underneath the Orange Tree

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Rock Art

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

My mom and I found a beautiful little niche in the woods full of rock piles. It was astonishing. There were so many of them of all shapes and sizes. Even some on tree branches. It amazed me because people took such care and time to make this little corner of the woods into an amazing place. I just wanted to thank those people for brightening up my day.

Lost Boy Found

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Today I shook
The hand of a man
Who truly has suffered
But lived his life
He is from Sudan
On his face
A story is told
Sun made wrinkles
Make him look old
His dark complexion
Shows who he is
A Lost Boy
He saw death
But refused to die
He fought for his life
And earned every second
His parents shot down
Right before his five year old eyes
So he turned and ran
And never looked back
Through starvation and thirst
He walked the hard land
Over one thousand miles
Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya
All called home
But never truly settled
His entire past gone
Lost in gun shots and screams
Blue rivers run red
But still this boy ran
Trying to keep up his head
Trying not to fall in the sand
His fellow comrades
The other lost children
Trek along desert ridges
Across barren lands
Nowhere in mind
Just trying to survive
Carried everything on his back
His history and hardships
A burden weighed down
Something pushing from behind
To keep him from falling down
So many fallen who never get back up
His name on a board
That guided his destiny
Brought him from nothing
But gave him everything
From Kenya to America
He traveled at last
To freedom, a home
But her could never forget his past
So he took what he had
And made something of it
Finally coming to our school
To tell us his story
Of a time so sad
He stands here before us
Showing his burden
Sharing his life
At the end of it all
I shook the hand of a man
Who had earned his way
Rough calloused hands
With a strong hard grip
That never let go
But yet still he smiles
Even after his time
Traveling through lands
Of blood and fire
To find a home
He is a Lost Boy
Torn from his home
At only five years old

Barbed Wire

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Standing Downhill

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I find myself standing downhill sometimes and feeling that the way to the top is so very far. When you stand at the bottom of the mountain everything else just seems so much bigger. Everything gets out of perspective and it is during times like these that we need to remember that things can seem out of your hands but nothing ever truly is. You just have to be up to the task. You have to start walking up the mountain at some point. It will be a long and hard journey, but the top will be insight eventually. Laying at the bottom of the hill doesn’t make it seem any better and won’t get you any closer to the top. So get up and climb. Let the journey begin.

Mossy Love

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

California Redwoods

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

One of the best parts about living in California are the magnificent redwood trees. They are so beautiful and they just make the nature in California so much more enjoyable. I go on hikes and runs with my mom and our dog Gracie all the time. My mom is the true redwood lover in this family. I just have to say

With trees like these, who wouldn’t be a tree hugger?

Scotts Valley Winter Concert

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I just wanted to congratulate the amazing students at my high school, Scotts Valley High for doing an amazing job raising money for people in Haiti with their winter concert. I am so impressed by my fellow students, there is so much talent at my school I never really knew about. Raising money for this great cause and watching my friends and fellow students performing was so inspiring and I just wanted to say

Watermelon Carving

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Downtown Santa Cruz has a Thai restaurant called Pacific Thai and out front it almost always has really interesting fruit carvings. My favorite are the watermelon ones, they are always fascinating to look at. Thanks Pacific Thai for being amazing!

Life

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photo: Unfair

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

At first I wasn’t sure what to think of you two because I didn’t understand your relationship but then it became clear to me that you were partners. You and your partner seemed so sad.I wonder what happened, you seemed to be comforting him as if something horrible had happened. I really wanted to ask what tragedy had befallen you and your partner, but I refrained. I wonder what it would be like to be you. How hard it must be for you and your partner, I wanted to say I was sorry. I am sorry life never seems fair, I really wish it was. I really do. I wish you both well in the future, and a reminder that your sorrows may someday pass. Be strong and sooner or later the sun will rise.

Message In A Bottle

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There is a message in a bottle
Somewhere out there for me
Lost among stormy seas
And faraway lands
I don’t know whom it is from
Or when it will arrive
But I know
It is out there somewhere
Searching for me
To deliver its message
It kept safe for me
It survived the winds
The hurricanes at sea
The harsh unmerciful waves
Passed from hand to hand
Sea to sea
I know it will find me someday
And that day when it arrives at last
I will find it among the rocks
Nestled and safe
Waiting just for me
Inside is a letter
About what I do not know
Just a small little note
From an author unknown
Telling me a secret
I have lived my whole life just to know
For now I am waiting
With my eyes turned to the sea
Watching for the glint of a bottle
Lost at sea

Creeper Photo: Hula Hooper

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I saw you on the beach dancing around with a hula hoop playing catch with your dog. You seemed so happy and care free, you didn’t care who saw you or what they thought. You were just there to have fun. I was a little worried you would steal my dog, you seemed to like her a lot and wanted to play with her. Sorry I couldn’t stick around keep up the good attitude. I hope to see you again some time hula hooping on the beach.

Let it all Hang Out

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I know Hawaii is a place of relaxation and time to let all your worries go, but somethings do need to be held onto. Your bathing suit top for starters and your decency. This really cracks me up because I don’t know what it is about vacations but for some reason the second people go on vacation there is a little switch in their heads that says

Hey I am on vacation all that normally applies no longer does as long as I am vacationing.

Black Striped

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Black striped nails
Fox with nine tails
All our efforts fail
Time to let our dreams sail

Black striped claws
Staring calmly into the lion’s maw
Trying not to cry with a locked jaw
Forever remember the horrors you saw

Black striped hair
Leave behind those who care
Stepping off a cliff if you dare
Walking into darkness unless you’re scared

Black striped skin
The game you play but never win
Look at your face you’re guilty as sin
This is my hell go on jump in

The Little Things

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

One of the nicest things about living in Santa Cruz is the redwoods. My mom and I often go running in the woods and sometimes it really does appear divine. My mom goes in much more often than I do and she took this picture. God truly is in the little things like this. I am just glad that I have gotten see things like this.

Open Flowers, Locked Windows

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Golden Gate Cargo

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photo: Storyteller

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You were such a cute little girl. You seemed to be having so much fun with all of your friends playing on the beach. You were very expressive and seemed to have a story to tell.

You just brightened up my day with your exuberance. I wonder what story you were chronicling for your friend. It seemed interesting, tales told by children are always so much more amusing than tales told by adults. I wish I could have listened in, maybe one day I will know, for now it remains your secret.

Hawaiian Beauty

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

In the Shadow of the Bell Tower

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The fence gate
Guards the bell towers
Where the pigeons wait
Let the bells ring
Let the bells toll
It is time
Let it go
Let it go
For so long
You stood on
The wrong side
Of the white picket fence
Cross over
It is time now
To leave behind
What you were
To become
Who you really are
Shut the gate behind you
It won’t on it’s own
Seal it tight
Don’t let the demons in
Here is a place of safety
Welcome
To the garden
Where we are alone now
But never alone
Under the shadow
Of the bell that tolls
Waiting for the sign
From no one
To take up our arms
And walk away
To cross the threshold
To become something new
Come take my hand
Walk with me
We can cross it together
And leave the gate
Swinging shut behind us
Don’t be afraid
I have done this before
All you have to do
Is open your heart
And sigh out your miseries
Then fill your heart back up
with the worlds gentle beauty
It is there
I promise
It is just hard to see
Just don’t get lost along the way
In the shadow of the bell that tolls
It can shallow you hole
You wont come back the same
To got o hell and back
To look down upon
You very own grave
Come back with me
I will guide you
Back to the gate
That stands guard
Over the bell tower
That watches us
From the garden
Don’t be afraid
This is life
This is who we are
This is who we have become
Eclipsed by the shadows
Of the bell tower

Beam Me Up

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I rather enjoy this photo that I took in Hawaii of my dad and brother inside of a lava tube. They are standing right below a hole to the surface which makes them look like aliens are about to beam them up or God sent down a light upon them.

Light up the Night

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Final Bow

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Why is it that right before some plants die they become so beautiful? Like this one, it was so colorful yet so close to its death.

Is it to remind us what we will be missing when it finally is gone? One last bang to always remain in our minds. It is like a person’s final bow as they look at the audience, with a wide grin that speaks miles. It says:

Creeper Photo: Wave Watching Skater Boy

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I saw you walking around in the crowd with your buddies and your skateboards. You joined the crowd to watch the waves crash on the rocks. The waves were huge the other day but you hopped over the railing anyway. You went out onto the edge even though it was dangerous. You just sat down on your skateboard and watched. You were interesting, why was it so important for you to be right out there next to the water when the waves were crashing so close. I bet you got water on you. I had to leave though so I never got to ask, maybe I will next time I see a skater-boy wave watching on a stormy day.

Creeper Photo: Stroller Mom

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I saw you from the balcony at my hotel in Hawaii. I was actually quite concerned because I had been watching the empty stroller for a good ten minutes wondering where the baby was and why the stroller remained. I was glad to finally see you and your baby. I just have one question, why take the baby and leave the stroller outside? Why not take both?

Birds of Paradise

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Monster Waves

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The storm down here in Santa Cruz sure does stir up some gnarly waves. At the lighthouse the waves were bouncing off the rocks and making huge waves that crashed into each other. It was pretty epic. This photo doesn’t do it justice.

The Butcher

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A little boy runs
Through a crowded market place
His arms held out
As he weaves between all the people
A little toy airplane
Held tight in his outstretched hand
He runs along
With a smile plastered on his face
Making airplane noises
All around him is the sound
Of a society
Perpetually on the move
Haggling, arguing
Agreeing, thanking
All the mouths moving
As they converse amongst each other
The boy hears a loud noise
He slows as he runs
It alone stands out
One noise in a world of clatter
It rings in his ears
Finally he stops
As the pounding noise
Is right in front of him
Looking at the market stall
Placed before him
A butcher stands
A meat cleaver in one hand
Humming happily
As he chops into the meat
Of an animals dead corpse
The crack of bones
As the metal crushes
The animal’s dead body
Crack crack crack
It echoes in the boys ears
As the butcher wedges the knife
Out of the cutting board
Out of the pile of pulverized meat
The butcher wipes the blood
On his white apron
Laughing as he notices the boy
Standing there motionless
His arms dangling limp
At his sides
The butcher brings the cleaver down
Again and again
The boy flinches each time
Following each little movement
With eyes wide
Hands gripping tightly onto
The little toy airplane
The butcher spits to the side
And looks down his nose
At the small innocent boy
He snorts again
You wanna try kid?
It’s fun
He holds out the cleaver
Stained in blood
The little boy drops the toy
And steps forward
Out of his old world
And into a new one
As he grabs onto the knife
To big for his tiny hands
The forgotten toy sits on the ground
It is crushed beneath the crowd
As it moves forward
Always moving
The boy doesn’t notice
The crack of bones resounds
Echoing into a crowd that doesn’t listen
And doesn’t care
Except for the little crushed airplane toy
That lays broken and forgotten
As a boy walks away from innocence
Into a world of blood
As the cleaver falls

The Mission

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I love visiting missions, there is always something magical about them. The feeling of history. Knowing that this place held so much meaning to so many people. There is always a hint of sadness, an emptiness that surrounds them. I have posted some photos of other missions like Mission San Miguel and Mission Hallways. This mission in San Juan Bautista is one of my favorites. Not just because it has a red door, but because I went there as a kid. It was the first mission I ever went to and I still loving going there.

Arboretum

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Creeper Photo: Little Bee

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You were so cute, I saw you on the beach playing with your dog. I wonder why you were wearing a bee suit. It doesn’t really matter though you looked amazingly cute in it. You are actually the main reason I came down to the beach. I saw you from up above and knew I had to see you up close. Thank you for being so cute, never loose it 😉

Coca Cola

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If Only it was that Simple

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

All the things we see around us everyday we start to take for granted after a while. One way I combat this is trying to look at things in a different way. Here is a simple recipe to remind you of the greatness of everyday things (or things you simply become very acquainted with):

Look at it from a different angle. Whether it is standing only centimeters away from it so you can see the dust standing on the tip of a needle, or in this cause a cactus, or looking at it upside down. The world can be viewed through a million different angles. Pick one and use it to change your perspective.

Postcards

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There is the quiet hum
Of a T.V. on silent
Sterilized white walls
Everything is so quiet
Yet so very loud
Footsteps echo in the halls
Whispers sound like screams
As they fall on dying ears
Do you know who you are
Or why you are here?
Who ever knows
Who ever will
As they roll
Another one away
Down a long hallway
That they never come back from
He is the one who remains
Locked in by
See through curtains
That cast shadows around him
And thousands of tubes
He is always alone
No one ever at his side
No family
No friends
No memories in the night
To keep him company
In the darkest hours of night
Where the ghosts are so close
And death stands at the foot
Of his skinny little bed
Telling him to come along
It is finally your time
There is just a pile of old postcards
That he bought for himself
What feels like a lifetime ago
From all the places he had been
And said he would never forget
But now he can’t remember
Anything at all
He forgets where he is
And who he is
He is separated and detached
From reality
By what he lacks
Waiting all alone
In a white washed room
With only a T.V. on mute
For company
And a stack of empty postcards
All waiting for the inevitable
The one thing he can never forget
That death is lingering
So very close
He can feel its breath
Whispering in his ear
In a hospital room where Lethe
Swept him away from all he knew
And ever loved
For him there is no future
Or a past
He is floating in an abyss
Stuck between heaven and hell
As the monitor beeps
Slower and slower
The man turns his head
And looks at the postcards
With old weary eyes
He reaches with his weighted hands
Shaking and fumbling
As he picks one up
A little smile on his dried cracked lips
I remember
He whispers but no one hears
As the monitor stops
And a lone tear
Slips from his eye
Staining the postcard
As it falls
Drifting slowly to the ground
Remembered at last

Roosters

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Here is a little known fact about me, I am actually very afraid of roosters. Not chickens.. just roosters. They are beautiful creatures but very nasty. I really enjoy looking at them but I know not to get to close to them because they are very territorial and won’t hesitate in showing you how they feel. There is just something very threatening about the way a rooster looks at you. Especially ones like I was taking pictures of in San Juan Batista. They were everywhere, it felt kind of like a cult of chickens, it was slightly frightening. They were all over the place, even on the mission. All watching me, getting ready to attack.

What Do You Reach For?

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Reach out and grasp onto the sun. The things that seem so out of reach are actually at your fingertips. But what are you reaching for? What is it that when you look at the sky that you are looking for? Some of you may know, some may not. That goal is attainable though, it may seem so very hard at times but remember you will never know just how close you are until you try.

In the Shadow

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I love the lighting of this photo of a palm tree while I was in Hawaii. Sometimes doing things the wrong way turns out really well.

Fragile

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The fragility of life
Is a very scary thing
The thought that
All you ever have worked at
Is for nothing
With just a cut
A scratch
Your life could be taken away
An accident
A slip
Could send you astray
That your life
Could all just be
Another burning ash
In a cigarette try
Just a walk
Could be your last
A fight with family
Could bring an end
So very fast
Just a word softly uttered
Could end it all
A little slip
Could wind up
Being a very big fall
Showing you that
You really are
Insignificant and small
Just a speck
In the eyes of all others
In the face of God
Every bone, every muscle
Every word
Every moment
Could be taken away
Ripped from you
With just a thought
Your world destroyed
Never to return
And no one
Would ever know
That you were gone

Essence of Hawaii

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I Miss You

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Can I even begin to explain to you just how much I miss this? Beautiful sky, lying on the beach just watching clouds roll by in eighty degree weather. Can I even begin?

Creeper Photo: Smile

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You guys made me smile. It was so clear you two loved each other and were having so much fun together. You and your son were trying to walk with one shoe shared and having a lot of fun doing it. It just reminds that there is so much good and so much love between people even in the darkest times. Yet again, you still make me smile and for that I thank you both.

Dream

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Here is a short story I wrote for fun.

Would you live for a single moment? Would you die for it, if it meant the world to you? Alanna’s world was a very small one and she had it all to herself. Except for Lumi, her little dog. Her entire life, all she could remember was snow. Her world was covered with a blanket of snow, relentless and unforgiving.

Alanna lived in this world all on her own, no parents or friends to give her company in the heart of a never-ending blizzard. Lumi was the only friend she ever had, she had always been there when the snow froze over her heart. In her heart she knew she would never be free of her home.

Wheelchair

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This photo makes me really sad every time I look at it. Even in Paradise there are reminders that even though this place feels like heaven, it isn’t.

An empty wheelchair sitting in the shade viewing the beautiful young people on the beach bathing in the sun and swimming in the water.

It weighs down on my heart. I wonder who sits in that chair. What that person must feels as they sit there and watch this scene with a heavy heart wishing that they could join in.

Creeper Photo: Lei Woman

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I seriously die from laughter when I see this, I decided to put it up because I am in need of a good laugh. So here you go, the Lei Woman.

Gabe's first bike race

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe has been so excited about cycling that he asked me about racing. I figured a mentoring session at the Early Bird Criterium in Fremont would be a perfect introduction to racing for him. He’s really bummed he doesn’t have drop bars and clipless pedals, but let’s see how he does today.

Of course Larry Nolan is here just as he’s been doing for many years. Nothing like having a world champion sweeping the turn for you.

Flamingos: Nature’s Idiot

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I may be alone in this belief but I might as well put it out there, I believe that the flamingo is natures idiot. I have never encountered an animal that just instantly strikes me as stupid, except for this weird looking bird. It may be its color or even the way it is shaped but when I walk near one I swear I can feel my IQ dropping.

Shut the Door

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Come in
Come back
It is cold outside
We wouldn’t want
You to catch a chill
Now would I
There is no reason
To venture outside
I have everything
You could ever want
Or ever desire
Shut the door behind you
It is dark out there
It is scary and unknown
You must beware
Don’t you know
I am just trying
To keep you safe
Like a good mother would
It is dangerous out there
Dark and twisted
So don’t even think
For a moment
That is where you belong
You belong here
Safe inside
Where the light always shines
Don’t walk away
Never leave me behind
Don’t you understand
You need me
You are mine
If you wont shut the door
Then I sure will
It will never open again
I may sound mean but I swear
My fragile love
It is for the best
The outside world
Isn’t for people like you
So shut the door
And leave your
Silly imagination behind
I have all you could ever want
But the freedom of the wind
And a world unknown