Postcard from this Week . . .

Red Sky at Night

The Winter Storm passed through late yesterday leaving us with a wonderful blazing evening sky. The Crescent Moon poked it's happy self out, like a little smile in the sky. (click images to enlarge)

Snow Day

Yesterday was our first real snow of the year. The kids had off school so I decided to take a snow day too. We spent the entire day outside around a nice warm toasty fire. James made Smores and I drank dark beer. Just for good measure I cooked a pork shoulder all day to absolute perfection. Nothing beats sitting around all day, stoking a warm fire, in the snow, eating Smores, enjoying a tasty selection of dark beers, and topping off the day with mouthwatering pulled pork barbecue. As James said, "This will give me good dreams". (click images to enlarge)I think I'll do it again today.

Saturday Morning . . .

. . . Walking the Earth with my trusty Canon G-9.(click images to enlarge)

Hey Grace, Call Me

Well, the Inaugural is over and I feel hungover. Not that post-euphoric letdown sort of hungover, I mean the real kind of hungover. I ended up going to what turned out to be one of the best Inaugural parties I’ve ever attended, The Red Goes Blue Party at the Old Ebbitt Grill. The buzz on the street was the The Dead were planning to join Jackie Green and Grace Potter and play until sunrise. So, amid flying rumors and wild speculation I headed down with my brother David and his friends, who btw, are always a bad influence to my ever virtuous lifestyle. It was a cool partying crowd, excitement filled the air, spirits were high, there was open bar. In combination, this all schemed towards disarming the Moderation Switch in my brain. Once that switch is disabled, unfortunately I posses no Off Switch. But, as Mae West once wisely stated, “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful”. (click images to enlarge)Phil Lesh joined Jackie Green for Sugaree, and Warren Haynes (my favorite guitar player on the planet) sat in with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals for Down by the River. I sure wish Warren would have called me up to jam with him on that one. As it turned out, The Dead did not play until sunrise, but by that point it didn’t matter anymore. The music was so good. That Grace Potter girl rocks harder than most dudes can even dream about. And, let's face it, how many girls do you know who can thoroughly Rock the House in White GoGo Boots and a Flying V?

24 Hours in NYC

Had a chance last week to do one thing I always enjoy, a 24 hour run to NYC. I love New York, for me it's like the center of the Universe. I just love the city, the people, the food, the over-stimulation, the mass humanity of it all. I was lucky to head up with two of my bestest photographer friends Keith and Renee to meet with our new APA National President Theresa. Didn't get a chance to take many photos due to our action packed high-level executive type schedule. Also it was cold, I mean really cold, like sub-arctic cold. It was as if some hellish Nor'easter was blasting through the canyons of the city. But, we accomplished our mission, met some friends, and made some new friends. Sure wish I could do that more often, I had a thoroughly good time. But, it's always good to land back here at my happy home. Visiting other cities just reminds me of how good I have it here in my little world. (click images to enlarge)

Happy New Year!

I took off for the Holidays and allowed myself the opportunity to not think one ounce of work related things. I have to do this from time to time and always come out on the other end feeling re-energized, with a renewed sense of enthusiasm towards my work and all things around me. Having somewhat cleared my ever spinning hyperactive mind, feeling as fresh as a newborn baby, I start this New Year full of good thoughts and optimism towards the year ahead. I wish everyone happiness and success in whatever the coming year may bring.I started this blog exactly 1 year ago. I may post irregularly and have a total readership of 7 but I've really enjoyed having this available as an additional vehicle for my own creative self expression. For me that's the whole purpose. I would encourage anyone so inclined to do the same. Anytime you put effort towards further developing your interests and improving your ability brings about little pieces of fulfillment. Like little pieces of a pie they all add up to make one big beautiful pie, like a nice warm pumpkin pie, with whipped cream, for breakfast. I may write silly things, post random photos, and very few may actually see my posts, but having this in place further motivates me to remain creative and productive. I have a very simple formula: Creative + Productive = Happy/Successful.

Postcard