My favorite part about the drive was the contrast of the deep rich colors of the leaves agains the clear blue sky. So beautiful. 

While we were driving along Skyline, I saw this one tree that was completely bare already up ontop of a big rock outcropping. We stopped so I could climb up there and take some pictures. 

When I got to the top I saw this other tree. It was a really interesting horizontal shape and i just liked the look of the withered wood with the rest of the gold leaves and blue sky. 

I have no idea what this vegetation is but it looked like a very well manicured topiary that just happened to be naturally occuring. Really neat I thought. 

Up there I found a tree that had these big bunches of bright berries hanging from it. 

Some berries among the small remaining bits of green grass. Great color contrast. 

As I walked around up on this peak area I found a cool rock formation. On the rocks was a single ladybug. It was still moving, slowly, but must have been miserable. 

Inside the rock formation I found this intersting view out of the cave. The shape the rocks made was almost more intersting that the view between them. 

On the drive home I set a tripod up on the front seat and got some interesting motion blurs. 

Slow Food

Most everyone is use to the concept of fast food, but from my experience most people don't think as much about slow food. I find it very refreshing that there is an organization out there trying to promote the idea of something as simple as sitting down to a meal that is cooked from quality ingredients.

I've been thinking about this alot lately since I read the book Coming Home to Eat, and also because one my favorite things to do with friends here in DC is have dinner parties. When I stop by the farmer's market to buy a loaf of bread, some vegetables, or cheese, I am surrounded by people who have taken time out of their day specifically to visit the market; these are mostly people who are there not because food was a last minute thought on the way home, but because they took time out of their day to look for ingredients.

Some how it just feels right to be picking your food out of baskets at a booth under the open sky. It's nice to be able to ask questions of the people who grew the food you are about to buy instead of asking a sales clerk whose job it is to stock cans and make sure the zuccini gets sprayed down at 10:30, 12:30, and 2:30. It's also nice to know that the food you're buying was grown and produced within a short driving distance of the market. This isn't food that was grown halfway around the world, packaged across the country and shipped in a train to your city. I still shop at grocery stores for some of my food, truth be told I still shop at grocery stores for MOST of my food. I'm simply trying to describe the difference in feeling I get from shopping at a farmer's market versus at a grocery store.

When I turn the oven on and put some bread in to toast, when I heat up a skillet with oil and butter to sautee vegetables, when I start soup stock simmering in a pot there is a feeling simplicity associated with it. I know that people have been doing this for thousands of years. I know that people have been using these same ingredients and same basic techniques forever. I can't really explain why that feels good but it does. And when you add other people to the mix it becomes even better.

We all have to eat. There was a time when extended families, all living under the same roof, would set aside what they were doing and come together to break bread. This communal sharing of a necessity such as eating became the basis for many celebrations and festivals. The Israelites were told to commemorate the sparing of their first born in Egypt with a very special feast, when Jesus sat down with his disciples for the last time it was during this same feast; here Christ once more consecrated the simple acts of eating and drinking. We breath all day without ceasing, when we sleep we are alone with our thoughts, the one other physical requirement we have is an activity that we do at set times throughout the day and may be shared with brothers and sisters. It seems that because it is the one absolutely essential activity in life that happens at discrete times throughout the day, this one has been given special prominence, this one can be done in community.

The next time you have a chance, sit down and really SHARE a meal with those you care for. Take time preparing the meal, letting the aromas of food draw everyone present into the anticipation of the eating. Really be present with the other people around the table. Be a part of each other's day. Slow down for a minute.

A Photo For You

I decided to take some more photos in the series I'm tentatively titling, "On the Street Where You Live". The pictures below are from around my neighborhood one crisp fall evening. I had to put on a long sleeve shirt and the sweater to keep warm as I knelt down for minutes at a time crouching in front of the tripod, waiting for the right combination of traffic, clouds, and lighting. Then another 30 seconds for each as I cued a 2 second self timer (to minimize camera shake), waited for the 15 seconds of exposure, and another 10 seconds for the image to save.

I was pretty happy with the end results. I have "accidentally" captured photos as good as these before while doing night photography (long exposures), but up until now it's mostly been experimentation. The difference here was “intentionality”. Being able to set out with certain images in mind is, I feel, equal important as spontaneously recognizing a moment.

I hope you enjoy!

One of my favorites. I just love how the color of the house plays off the color of the sky. I tried to get one with more clear sky showing but was getting impatient. 

Not sure if I like this one or the one just above it better. At any rate these are two of my favorites. 

Along T street I found this bright yellow Xterra. i liked the way it looked agains the trees and thought I'd try to get a car passing in front of it. This was the result. I wanted to bring the Xterra up just a bit in the shot (rule of 1/3's) but felt it eliminated too much of the skyline (wanted that dark blue to play off the yellow). Unfortunately my lens wasn't wide enough to let me zoom out any more. 

Intersection of 18th and T. Feel free to disagree but I really enjoy the way this shot makes NW DC look like a ghost town (about the furthest thing from what it is). All that blue/black sky, the single lamp post. The short building. 

Side Shot of Lauriol Plaza emphasizing the roof deck. I love how it makes the restaurant look like a tree house. I had several others but liked the "profile" effect of this one. 

Another View of Lauriol Plaza, I'd probably play with the saturation on this one a bit before I tried making a print. Also, happens to be my least favorite of this grouping. 

In an Alley just off T Street, by Mi Casa 

Same Alley by T Street 

Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head

Acquiring an umbrella and retaining it throughout late summer and early fall is of critical importance to urban dwellers. The consequences can be mild in the event of a light sprinkle to disastrous in event of a late summer storm. Especially vulnerable are those particular urbanites whose commute to work involves not the usual 45 minute bumper to bumper but the 15 minute sidewalk hike.

I had misplaced my umbrella several weeks ago, only to find that the very time I chose to lose it was the very time nature decided to return some overdue water the much appreciative ground. I intended to purchase a new umbrella but in keeping with a disturbing trend I’ve noticed lately, the urge to purchase the umbrella was only high when it was raining, at which time the purchasing of the umbrella was of less importance than the rushing home as quickly as possible.

Several days ago while leaving for work at the same time as my roommate, in the rain, I noticed that while she had an umbrella in her hand, an umbrella remained under the table by the door. I asked her if she would mind my borrowing her extra umbrella, at which time she informed me that the other umbrella wasn’t hers. I looked and, sure enough, the umbrella was that very one I thought had been lost.

It turns out the umbrella must have been left around the house prompting someone, other than myself, to relocate the umbrella to a place more fitting for storage of such items. However, since no relocation notice was given (and owing in large part to my own laziness I suppose) I was rained on more times that I ought to have been.

Having said all of that, there is something refreshing about walking in the rain when it isn’t overly cold and you aren’t risking damage to some precious bit of electronics or clothing.

Updates and Downdates

Updates and Downdates

I noticed that most of my frustrating moments this weekend were as a result of the mood I was in, and my reaction to things that happened. I won’t bother with details as none of the incidents were of consequence; they were simply the minutiae that daily sit in the header of this page. At the time they seemed real enough to put me in a funk for most of the beginning of Saturday, as well as the beginning of Sunday. In both instances though I was able to be in a much better state by the evening.

Which brings us to the updates, the real reason for this post. On Thursday evening I finished Sense and Sensibility, significant for two reasons. The first reason this is significant is my decision to go back and read many of the classic books, especially those from that vast pool of books that most read in high school and college English classes. I have recently (in the last year) read Walden, The Old Man and the Sea, 100 Years of Solitude, The Brothers Karamazov, and Sense and Sensibility, all in addition to my regular schedule of Lewis and other Non-Fiction books.

The second reason this is significant is because of two women, Jane Austen and Amon Krist. The first woman you will no doubt recognize as the author of the wonderful book I had the pleasure of enjoying, and the second as the woman I’m dating. In way of further explanation, Amon wrote her thesis on Jane Austen and feels very strongly about these books.

I’m now reading a book called Coming Home to Eat. This book has some very interesting things to say about local foods, not only in the sense of recipes that are traditional to a certain people or area, but also in the sense of using ingredients that are from your local area, not flown, trained, or trucked in from across the country or the world. I”ll have a more thorough review of this book up soon I imagine. It could make for some interesting posts, it’s certainly given ME a lot to think about.

Until later,
Mike

You'll notice everyone in Dupont Circle is facing the same direction. On my way home from work Monday I heard what sounded like a really loud back fire but turned out to be a gun shot. According to a VERY brief writeup, a dog charged the police officer who in return fired on the dog, killing it. Very, very disturbing.

I didn't see what happened before the officer fired at the dog, but as soon as I heard the gun discharge (within a couple seconds) I located the source and saw the rest. When I looked up the dog was jumping around and then writhing on the ground. It was really awful. Maybe one of the most disturbing things I've seen. I suppose that is a testimony to the sheltered life I've led, but that seems like little consulation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/11/AR2006091101440.html

This is as close as I wanted to get. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. 

A Word of Thanks

To my Lawrence friends,

I wanted to first of all say that I had a wonderful time while I was back in Lawrence. It meant allot to me to see each of you and be able to talk face-to-face. If I missed seeing you, then I'm truely sorry it didn't work out, send me an email and let me know what's going on or call me. My number is the same as it use to be:
Seven Eight Five - Two One Eight - Eight Eight Three Six

Just a quick note of thanks to Andrew, PT, Tim and Rachelle, and Steven and Molly. Thanks for opening your houses. Steve and Beth, thanks for the Special-K bars!

The (over) a week of vacation went much faster than I had thought it might. I think I got to read all of 50 pages. If I had to choose though, between time spent reading at a coffee shop and time spent living life with each of you I'd make the same decision all over again.

You all mean so much to me, and I look forward to the next time I'm able to see you all again. Remember...DC isn't THAT far away, and there are plenty of fun (ahem...free) things to do.

Until Next Time,
MikeyC>

Rainy Day Words

Disheveled umbrellas dance a syncopated rhythm as people shuffle from domicile to duty.

Couple Quick Picks

So I’m posting this quick update because I had said I’d get some pictures up from my little camping “excursion” to Assateague. I’ll post more pictures once I get them from Amon. These are the photos off my camera. I didn’t take too many. If you really want to see more, stay tuned!

I went to Assateague Island last weekend, famous for it's "wild" horses, or ponies (not sure which). See how wild they are? 

Man, those are some wild horses. They are clearly not use to people. 

Commercial Success

Why don’t I ever see commercials like these Honda commercials? All I ever see are crappy commercials that make me want to do things that will make parts of my body other than my brain hurt, because then I would be distracted. I feel that if I ever saw commercials like these, maybe I wouldn’t hate commercials so much.

Enjoy! (P.S. Thank you people at Honda)

http://84.40.3.164/
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721903
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721895

Discoteque District

This city pumps people around like blood through its vains. The metro rumbles through the grate beneath my feet and I look back up just in time to see the cars accelerate away from the intersection. Around me the daily pedestrian parade spills into the street, either antsy to get away from A or excited about B. They're quickly obscured as a bus pulls between us to drop off more participants.

My trip to the Capital in the morning reveals news papers discussing the most recent political maneuvering and what was “Heard on the Hill”. When I go out for lunch, someone on the corner is wanting to tell me about the newest world tragedy and why they need my help. At happy hour people standing around are talking about what neighborhood is ready to bust onto the real estate scene or how much their 1.5 million dollar 3 bedroom house with no yard has appreciated in the last 6 months. My inbox is overflowing with notices of concerts just announced, museum exhibits opening, evites for parties, improv comedy, cultural events, festivals, small groups and dinners.

Politics, finance, ideals all vie for the attention of this city’s residents. For every minute in suburban America where I had to search for a motivation, hunt down activities, the District throws them at me like a rescue worker tossing sandbags. Everyone here is convinced that their cause is the most important, their view the right one. It seems to have one of two results. You either get caught up in a cause or you get cold to them.

How do you balance a desire to care about what is going on around you, to take advantage of the situation you are in, and not go crazy with the dizzying array of options? Some nights I just want to sit on the couch and read.

Plans

Camping this weekend and KS September 4-8. Does it get any better? I will tell you the answer to this and more questions, coming up at 8.

Back to the Future

So I have reverted back to using my old cell phone (sans camera). It isn't the worst tradgedy in the world since I didn't find myself using the camera feature often. Also, my older cell phone actually has BETTER battery length. However, as I mentioned in my last post the numbers I got since having the new flip style phone are lost. If I know you from Kansas, you're probably good. If I've met you since then, it's probably best to email/voicemail me and leave the number again.

Summary: I have a working phone again now, so I can start calling people back. Wonderful!

Mike

Contagious?

If so then I suppose I have Kaufman to blame for this. Otherwise it's just my own stupid luck. I just lost my phone. How freakin exciting. I should have most of the people in KS's phone numbers in my old phone. If your number has changed in the last 6 months though, or I've met you in DC, please email me your cell phone number. Or if you don't want to worry about me ever calling you - feel free to not email me. Either way.

World Jump Day

I just wanted to share this link with everyone. You should all participate in this activity. By committing to a once in a lifetime event, a single jump (you jump up, you come down...done) you can improve all of the environmental alterations that many scientists claim are a result of our poor treatment of the globe. It’s a one time quick fix! How could it go wrong?

Seriously though, World Jump Day? As a joke it’s pretty funny. As a statement about our society it’s pretty telling. I don’t think that a single website will necessarily work to indict our whole culture, but I do think it is indicative of a people who are more concerned with covering symptoms than fixing a problem.

My only hope is that this is actually a marketing ploy on someone’s behalf to sell some T-shirts. From that perspective it’s genius. I’d buy one just as a funny statement about what I was saying above.

4th of July Zaniness

I spent my fourth of July on the lawn of the national mall. It was great fun. Amon got to the mall with some guests she had in town and staked out a spot for us. I showed up about noon and hung out with Amon and others all day, anticipating the wonderful fireworks. Amon had packed a picnic lunch, brought blankets and sun umbrellas. It was grand. The only hitch in the plan was the massive storm that raged through the area bringing gale force winds, hail, and sheets of rain that were parallel to the ground.

How did we deal with this monstrosity of a storm you may ask? While others fled for cover we stacked all our stuff in the cart Amon had brought, put the tarp over the top and climbed underneath. We waited out the storm huddled in the shadow of the Washington Monument watching (it was a clear painters tarp) the storm approach, the gusts of wind almost tear the tarp out of our hands, the rain march across the reflecting pool towards us, and a branch get ripped off a tree. When it had reverted to sprinkling, we climbed out from beneath the tarp, set the area back up (blankets nice and dry sitting on top of the tarp) and enjoyed the rest of the evening in the newly cooled off air.

The fire works went off without a hitch and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. As a side note, Becky (Amon’s roommate) had her digital SLR with her and playing with it re-ignited my desire to purchase one for myself someday. Sooo nice. Sigh.

Hope your 4th was fantastic.

One more update

It’s been a long time since I updated but things have been exceedingly hectic, which isn’t to say all bad, just very busy. The weekend after the retreat (see pictures below) I went to Michigan with Amon. I got back from that and was back at work Wednesday, so the 3 day work week made for a very chaotic work week. There were 3 deadlines when I got back from my mini vacation. Additionally, when I got back from MI Tuesday evening I discovered that my apartment had soggy carpet in both my bedroom as well as my roommates. So the second half of last week was also spent moving both my furniture and my roommate’s from our bedrooms to the living room. Thankfully I had a relatively relaxing weekend spent reading primarily (and hanging out with Malcolm and his parents a bit). I’m on schedule to finish The Brother’s Karamazov on my 4th of July day off.

Best things last, Amon drove back from MI Sunday evening. She brought along her brother, her cousin, and her cousin’s boyfriend. Hopefully they will do some fun things in the evenings and I will get to tag along.

Hope that helps bring any curious people up to speed. I have a whole list of people to call and seem to always be trying to find time to call them. If I haven’t called you in awhile PLEASE don’t take it personally. I’m very sorry and really mean to call. Hopefully I can catch up this week.

On our way to Rocky Gap lodge 

Ah, a chinese buffet to start the retreat off right... 

...eating... 

...so tasty...