MT SHASTA_0265lr
Originally uploaded by cmort04.
Shot on the way home. Fresh snow at dusk. A tough combo to beat.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Bike_0241lr
Bike_0241lr
Originally uploaded by cmort04.
I shot this specifically for my buddy Brian. A big Harley fan and even bigger fan of the sparkly starburst effect when applied to a motorcycle. He loves it! Can't get enough of it!. He reads this sometimes and I expect a colorful comment.
TURTLE_0239lr
TURTLE_0239lr
Originally uploaded by cmort04.
This photo also doubles as a portrait of Kim getting ready to go somewhere.
Home For Thanksgiving
Ahh, Home for Thanksgiving! Nothing like it. Its like being wrapped in a warm blanket, literally, my dad keeps the house a refreshing 106 degrees. Kidding dad.
As always, its nice to get back home an enjoy some great food and even better company. Never get to stay long enough to do all the things I want to, or see all the people I’d like to, but we sure made good use of the short time we had. Above are a sampling of said good times. One thing new to Redding that I had yet to see (its been there for a couple of years, but unless I have seen it personally, its new) is the Sun Dial Bridge, crafted from steel and glass, this bridge is a sight to behold. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the bridge is the gateway to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park and McConnell Arboretum. What a huge upgrade to the area. One of the best things about it is they finally explain what that old monolith was for. In all the years I lived there, that was nothing to me but an old eyesore. No explanation as to what or why its burned out hulking mass of concrete was doing there all these years. Turns out its was the aggregate plant that supplied the concrete for the Shasta Dam. A massive conveyor belt 10 miles long supplied the workers with nonstop materials for the concrete that went into the dam. Very cool. The turtle shots and the family pictures were taken in and around the park. We thoroughly enjoyed it and could spend many more hours discovering all it has to offer. Later that evening, mom and I made the trip back to the bridge for some night shots, (the bridge lights up). I couldn’t get exactly what I wanted as I waited to long to get down there. However. Turning the camera up river, I got a nice shot looking towards Caldwell park. (Named after the late husband of my sophomore English teacher Mrs. Caldwell or as I like to call her, the crabbiest old battle ax on Earth. (We didn’t always see eye to eye.) My dad and I even got to spend a little time in his shop making some tools. His expertise with metal makes it look easy but its not, and I'm happy to have been able to watch him work. We also did a little shopping at the tool store which is always fun. I wish I could spend more time with him learning what he knows.
It was great trip and good time spent with the whole family. On the way back I snapped a couple shots of Mt. Shasta in the evening light. Its just after a fresh snow fell on the peak.
As always, its nice to get back home an enjoy some great food and even better company. Never get to stay long enough to do all the things I want to, or see all the people I’d like to, but we sure made good use of the short time we had. Above are a sampling of said good times. One thing new to Redding that I had yet to see (its been there for a couple of years, but unless I have seen it personally, its new) is the Sun Dial Bridge, crafted from steel and glass, this bridge is a sight to behold. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the bridge is the gateway to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park and McConnell Arboretum. What a huge upgrade to the area. One of the best things about it is they finally explain what that old monolith was for. In all the years I lived there, that was nothing to me but an old eyesore. No explanation as to what or why its burned out hulking mass of concrete was doing there all these years. Turns out its was the aggregate plant that supplied the concrete for the Shasta Dam. A massive conveyor belt 10 miles long supplied the workers with nonstop materials for the concrete that went into the dam. Very cool. The turtle shots and the family pictures were taken in and around the park. We thoroughly enjoyed it and could spend many more hours discovering all it has to offer. Later that evening, mom and I made the trip back to the bridge for some night shots, (the bridge lights up). I couldn’t get exactly what I wanted as I waited to long to get down there. However. Turning the camera up river, I got a nice shot looking towards Caldwell park. (Named after the late husband of my sophomore English teacher Mrs. Caldwell or as I like to call her, the crabbiest old battle ax on Earth. (We didn’t always see eye to eye.) My dad and I even got to spend a little time in his shop making some tools. His expertise with metal makes it look easy but its not, and I'm happy to have been able to watch him work. We also did a little shopping at the tool store which is always fun. I wish I could spend more time with him learning what he knows.
It was great trip and good time spent with the whole family. On the way back I snapped a couple shots of Mt. Shasta in the evening light. Its just after a fresh snow fell on the peak.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Dogs Dirty Digits Don't Decieve, Dog Demented.
My dog is crazy. She is the sweetest dog, but she's challenged. She has taken to hanging out in the bathtub. Actually she's always done this, I don't know why, sometimes its because the smoke alarm goes off, or something beeps (she hates beeping things), but lately she just likes sleeping in there. My picky kid wont take a bath or shower until I scrub the tub with comet. You all see where this is leading right? You guessed it, the dogs new trick is designed to create a never-ending job for me, another one, as if shedding all day isn't enough. Well, "throw her outside" you say, I say, "ok" then she goes and wedges herself between a tree and my deck where she likes to sit in wait of squirrels to bark at and chase. She has dug herself a cozy little mud pit that of course gets on her paws at the first hint of rain. Well, last night was dry as a bone right, so no worries. I call her in right before Dylan is to get into his bath. Dylan goes in a few minutes later and says, " uh dad, can you come here, I need to show you something" being as patient with his stall tactics as I can be, I say, "What", he says just come here, I can't explain it", "Try" I say, after I realize this is going nowhere fast, I haul myself off the couch and into the bathroom where it becomes painfully clear that Jazzy was in her secret hiding spot outside, I didn't realize she was dirty because the dirt was dry enough not to leave tracks on the floor when she came in. She fixed that by climbing into the bathtub and wetting her paws a little. From there it was clear that she turned a few circles, climbed out of the tub, walked over to the window a couple times, checked the cat box for fresh eats, sniffed the toilet and clothes hamper and of course walked all over Dylan's clothes and then the rest of the house.
Dylan came very close to learning how many appropriate uses there are for the F word. But I managed to use my "inside voice".
Stupid dog.
Once I got the place clean, her paws scrubbed and my kid started on his shower, its back to the couch to be stared at by Jazzy unflinchingly like after all the yelling I did, I must have some nerve to sit on her couch. When that didn't work, she sat in the middle of the room staring at the wall with her back to me. A new trick she picked up to get back at me or anyone she deems responsible for displacing her from her spot -on- the- couch- that- has- never- really- been- allowed- but- does -it- anyway. She's pretty hard to stay mad at though and 15 minutes later, she was back in my good graces and curled up nice and cozy on the couch.
Dylan came very close to learning how many appropriate uses there are for the F word. But I managed to use my "inside voice".
Stupid dog.
Once I got the place clean, her paws scrubbed and my kid started on his shower, its back to the couch to be stared at by Jazzy unflinchingly like after all the yelling I did, I must have some nerve to sit on her couch. When that didn't work, she sat in the middle of the room staring at the wall with her back to me. A new trick she picked up to get back at me or anyone she deems responsible for displacing her from her spot -on- the- couch- that- has- never- really- been- allowed- but- does -it- anyway. She's pretty hard to stay mad at though and 15 minutes later, she was back in my good graces and curled up nice and cozy on the couch.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Eugene Man Pulls For Home Depot
A recent news story has grabbed my attention and stands as a perfect example of why I can’t find anyone at Home Depot to answer my legitimate and important questions. Its not their fault, they have to tend to more important issues like making sure some moron checks his toilet seat before sitting down. Or knowing Home Depots upstanding reputation they probably went a step further and stationed someone in the bathroom to wipe this guys ass so he doesn’t “feel like he’s having a heart attack”.
I personally think this guy got what he had coming to him. Nobody I know would use a public rest room without so much as glancing at the seat. And if I were to do that, I would be thankful that what I sat in was only glue, good old sterile glue. Perhaps this is why they put ass gaskets in the stalls. Home Depot covered their bases, why couldn’t this guy? Still, they are getting hit with a 3 million dollar lawsuit! Unbelievable. FOR WHAT! The only thing they could do, they did. Sure it took a minute or two, but honestly, if some nutbag was yelling from in the stall, I’d let him “rot” as well. The best I would have done was go to the paint thinner aisle and slide a can under the stall. Beyond that, your on your own. Meanwhile they call the fire department and paramedics to the scene and take them away from real emergencies. Oh and by the way, this happened in 2003! (Two years ago for the mathematically challenged), why are we hearing about this now? And heres another little pearl of information: Same thing happened to him a year earlier at a Visitor’s Center, only then, he was brave enough to heroically pry himself free on his own. Whew! Thank god! Now he can drive up the price of nails by faking the same trick at Home Depot!
Faker!
If I was the judge in this case, I would not only throw this case out as a frivolous piece of trash, I would fine the lawyers and if that wasn’t legal, I’d at the very least charge this guy with destroying private property and make him pay for all the emergency crews, not to mention court costs. And if at all possible, I’d go Abu Grab on him and make him stand on a box with a hoody and nipple clamps. Maybe then he’d learn a lesson.
I’m sick to death of all these idiots and their stupid claims filed to get rich off innocent people. I blame lawyers for encouraging this kind of behavior and the judges who hand out winning judgements.
If you go to McDonald’s get coffee (a typically hot beverage) then, put it between your legs while driving too fast over speed bumps, you get what you get. Not McDonald’s fault.
And because of these losers, we have warnings on everything you pick up now-a-days. And maybe its just my lack of patience, but when I do actually read the instructions that come with something I have to assemble, (instead of just looking at the picture on the box) I now have to trudge through 5 pages worth of things not to do in order to start assembly. Nice work dipsh*ts! (I had to censor myself for the more sensitive members of my audience.)
I personally think this guy got what he had coming to him. Nobody I know would use a public rest room without so much as glancing at the seat. And if I were to do that, I would be thankful that what I sat in was only glue, good old sterile glue. Perhaps this is why they put ass gaskets in the stalls. Home Depot covered their bases, why couldn’t this guy? Still, they are getting hit with a 3 million dollar lawsuit! Unbelievable. FOR WHAT! The only thing they could do, they did. Sure it took a minute or two, but honestly, if some nutbag was yelling from in the stall, I’d let him “rot” as well. The best I would have done was go to the paint thinner aisle and slide a can under the stall. Beyond that, your on your own. Meanwhile they call the fire department and paramedics to the scene and take them away from real emergencies. Oh and by the way, this happened in 2003! (Two years ago for the mathematically challenged), why are we hearing about this now? And heres another little pearl of information: Same thing happened to him a year earlier at a Visitor’s Center, only then, he was brave enough to heroically pry himself free on his own. Whew! Thank god! Now he can drive up the price of nails by faking the same trick at Home Depot!
Faker!
If I was the judge in this case, I would not only throw this case out as a frivolous piece of trash, I would fine the lawyers and if that wasn’t legal, I’d at the very least charge this guy with destroying private property and make him pay for all the emergency crews, not to mention court costs. And if at all possible, I’d go Abu Grab on him and make him stand on a box with a hoody and nipple clamps. Maybe then he’d learn a lesson.
I’m sick to death of all these idiots and their stupid claims filed to get rich off innocent people. I blame lawyers for encouraging this kind of behavior and the judges who hand out winning judgements.
If you go to McDonald’s get coffee (a typically hot beverage) then, put it between your legs while driving too fast over speed bumps, you get what you get. Not McDonald’s fault.
And because of these losers, we have warnings on everything you pick up now-a-days. And maybe its just my lack of patience, but when I do actually read the instructions that come with something I have to assemble, (instead of just looking at the picture on the box) I now have to trudge through 5 pages worth of things not to do in order to start assembly. Nice work dipsh*ts! (I had to censor myself for the more sensitive members of my audience.)
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Blustery and Beautiful.
I love today!
I woke up on the crabbly side of the bed and Kim apparently had the same problem with her side.
So it started out a little rough, but as soon as I stepped outside for my morning walk, leashed to my faithful ball retrieving carnivorous companion, I was immediately pelted in the face by 40 mph wind driven rain and happy with my choice to wear both jacket and gloves. Its a perfect fall day, leaves blowing all around, the smells of fall fills the air, its raining but not too hard, its chilly but not too cold, you get the idea, its a perfect day for a fire and some hot coffee. Since walking around with fire might seem awkward to the neighbors, I go with coffee only. I really enjoy the walk, watching the people as I go. There are the usual characters out, the guy with the 2 dogs and blue hat with earmuffs, the lady on the football field taking giant one yard steps to the 50 yard line, running back and doing it again. She never says hi or good morning or anything. There’s the elderly couple who walk hand in hand and are always quick with a wave. Although I didn’t see them today. Then there’s this sad girl on her way to school who always looks like she just can’t take another minute of this life. I always make it a point to say ‘good morning’. At first she wouldn’t even acknowledge me. I figured she thought it was weird that a stranger would be friendly, and its probably been drilled into her head from early on that talking to strange men is bad. Which is a good thing to be cautious of. She must be getting used to me though. She smiled once the other day and this morning, gave me a tentative ‘good morning’ back. It was a breakthrough of sorts. She seems to think of herself as sort of an outcast and I wonder if she’s ok. She reminds me of a lot of people I’ve known and sometimes a random smile and friendly gesture from someone outside her circle of acquaintances is a refreshing sign that all is not lost with the world, at least that’s what I want to believe. She probably thinks of me as the old dog walking guy that keeps bugging her. That’s ok too. Anyway, It was a nice walk and by the end, I was in a great mood.
I woke up on the crabbly side of the bed and Kim apparently had the same problem with her side.
So it started out a little rough, but as soon as I stepped outside for my morning walk, leashed to my faithful ball retrieving carnivorous companion, I was immediately pelted in the face by 40 mph wind driven rain and happy with my choice to wear both jacket and gloves. Its a perfect fall day, leaves blowing all around, the smells of fall fills the air, its raining but not too hard, its chilly but not too cold, you get the idea, its a perfect day for a fire and some hot coffee. Since walking around with fire might seem awkward to the neighbors, I go with coffee only. I really enjoy the walk, watching the people as I go. There are the usual characters out, the guy with the 2 dogs and blue hat with earmuffs, the lady on the football field taking giant one yard steps to the 50 yard line, running back and doing it again. She never says hi or good morning or anything. There’s the elderly couple who walk hand in hand and are always quick with a wave. Although I didn’t see them today. Then there’s this sad girl on her way to school who always looks like she just can’t take another minute of this life. I always make it a point to say ‘good morning’. At first she wouldn’t even acknowledge me. I figured she thought it was weird that a stranger would be friendly, and its probably been drilled into her head from early on that talking to strange men is bad. Which is a good thing to be cautious of. She must be getting used to me though. She smiled once the other day and this morning, gave me a tentative ‘good morning’ back. It was a breakthrough of sorts. She seems to think of herself as sort of an outcast and I wonder if she’s ok. She reminds me of a lot of people I’ve known and sometimes a random smile and friendly gesture from someone outside her circle of acquaintances is a refreshing sign that all is not lost with the world, at least that’s what I want to believe. She probably thinks of me as the old dog walking guy that keeps bugging her. That’s ok too. Anyway, It was a nice walk and by the end, I was in a great mood.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Halloween Goes Off Without a (w)Hitch.
It was a great night! Everything went well. Dylan, Kim and the Hubbards went trick or treating while I stayed behind to man post. And man my post I did! I would lay in wait as my victims cautiously walked up my driveway, then as they reached my fence, I came around the corner and just appeared silently in front of them. Now, before anyone accuses me of being jerk and scaring little kids to the point of tears, I should say that that was not my intention and when I saw that it was a little guy, I came out way early so as not to startle them, and even took my mask off when they started crying. It was clear early on that my costume was a success! Now it was punk scaring “GO TIME” and with them, I would wait until they rounded the corner of my fence before coming out to maximize the effect. Wow! It was so much fun. If they didn’t scream, they froze and backed up. Classic. Then laughed and everyone was happy. Even had some repeat customers that wanted pictures with me. This particular couple was in there 20’s and of Middle Eastern descent they spoke English well, but screamed and yelled in their native tongue, what ever that was. They were having a great time. As it turns out, they are my new neighbors. What an icebreaker.
It rained pretty much the whole time, but that doesn’t detour a guy like me. I realize I’m not made of sugar and pure mischief doesn’t melt so I carried on until they stopped.
I left the pumpkins lit and conveniently right at the end of my driveway, just begging to be smashed.
Well, the official end of the Halloween season came to a ‘smashing’ end at 2:30 in the morning when a car full of less than sober college kids pulled up with the music blasting. They piled out of the SUV with the efficiency that only seasoned smashers have, hooting and hollering, they smashed my pumpkins and raised their arms in victory as if they knew that I could not rest until someone did it. Of course they left all my other decorations alone. Good pumpkin hunters.
So we conclude another Fall and head into the Xmas season.
I felt the first twinge of Christmas already, which should go away about mid November after I’m barraged with a billion ads and even more Xmas music everywhere I turn, but perhaps this year will different. For Thanksgiving, we’re going ‘over the river and through the woods to Grandmothers house’ in California, (my family) and Jim and Karen are coming to town for Xmas. We’re all really looking forward to that. So I will do what I can to keep the spirit alive and well and not turn into a giant Crankipotamus.
It rained pretty much the whole time, but that doesn’t detour a guy like me. I realize I’m not made of sugar and pure mischief doesn’t melt so I carried on until they stopped.
I left the pumpkins lit and conveniently right at the end of my driveway, just begging to be smashed.
Well, the official end of the Halloween season came to a ‘smashing’ end at 2:30 in the morning when a car full of less than sober college kids pulled up with the music blasting. They piled out of the SUV with the efficiency that only seasoned smashers have, hooting and hollering, they smashed my pumpkins and raised their arms in victory as if they knew that I could not rest until someone did it. Of course they left all my other decorations alone. Good pumpkin hunters.
So we conclude another Fall and head into the Xmas season.
I felt the first twinge of Christmas already, which should go away about mid November after I’m barraged with a billion ads and even more Xmas music everywhere I turn, but perhaps this year will different. For Thanksgiving, we’re going ‘over the river and through the woods to Grandmothers house’ in California, (my family) and Jim and Karen are coming to town for Xmas. We’re all really looking forward to that. So I will do what I can to keep the spirit alive and well and not turn into a giant Crankipotamus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
