Spring

Srping has sprung, granted it's still a bit cold, but I am fired up, eager to get shooting again. Come out and play with me. collaborate with me, let's make art! I'll start shooting indoors and eventually work my way out into the streets.

St Paddy's Day

March the 17th,,, Sleep the 18th

Beware the Ides of March

I told you so!

Something Victorian?

I don't typically respond to calls for entries but this one really tweaked my eye. http://www.aboutglamour.net/English/home.e.html So if you are interested in collaborating drop me a line.

Reply

Tetsu,

I have no idea who you are, but thank you for the kind words of encouragement!

Mark

Who are you?

OK, every once in a while I look at the stats for my blog, we broke 5000 hits over the weekend. And I've been looking at where the traffic is coming from. (Some interesting places, some as far away as New Zealand, Iran and Singapore) But the one I'm most curious about is right here in NJ. That's right, you the anonymous Bayonne viewer who apparently works for Maidenform. http://www.maidenform.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?sectionId=33
Please leave a comment, introduce yourself, e-mail me?

Domain Name

(Unknown)
IP Address

208.164.184.# (MAIDENFORM)
ISP

Savvis
Location

Continent
:
North America
Country
:
United States (Facts)
State
:
New Jersey
City
:
Bayonne
Lat/Long
:
40.6709, -74.1095 (Map)
Language

English (United States)en-us
Operating System

Microsoft WinXP
Browser

Internet Explorer 6.0Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1)
Javascript

version 1.3
Monitor

Resolution
:
1024 x 768
Color Depth
:
32 bits
Time of Visit

Mar 13 2006 12:57:25 pm
Last Page View

Mar 13 2006 12:57:48 pm
Visit Length

23 seconds
Page Views

3
Referring URL
http://www.google.co...G&btnG=Google Search
Search Engine
google.com
Search Words
mtephoto blog

Photo Studio Visitors

Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly!

Air Dancing

Dancing by myself...

This way...

Stairway...

No return

Don't...

No wings...

No ...

Wait...

Dammit!

I can do this...

I can...

Too long,,,

One more moment...

Too far...

Too late...

Shhhhhh!

It's OK...

The Rush

deep breath, then...

Again

No going back now...

Just one more...

She said...

No going back...

And she was...

Over the line...

And she was...

One small step...

Air Dancing

One small step

How long will you wait?

How long will you wait for the right bus/driver?

Time for a Second Opinion?

Can't shake that cold? Want some free medical advice? Or maybe a really cool pen pal?

Dr. Jack Kevorkian#284797Thumb Correctional Facility3225 John Conley DriveLampeer, MI 48446-2987

A Warm Place

The wood stove is blazing, the generator has gas as does the snow blower, the fridge is well stocked as we hunker down for a blizzard. See you in a few days!

Words

I'm touched by some kind words this week. It keeps me going!

Stag Hill Shower

Shower Anyone?

Vanity is Fair

Mirror mirror, on the floor ... Just what is vanity?

Inspired

Someone comes along and affirms your beliefs. It lights your fire. I've been inspired 3 times in a 24 hour span. It feels good. Where is that rock? Let's see what we can do with this!

Complain

I've so much to gripe about. But I'm going to resist that urge and move ahead as best I can.

Let's light this candle!

Well, I'm out of my funk and ready to get rolling. School has started and so-far it seems to be going well. Some friends/former students stopped in for a vist and really made my day. I'm working on a photo project and they helped in a collaboration that is starting to really take shape. Today I'll sit in front of the wood burning stove, and relax. Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day, and I was thinging about his words; "I have a dream."
My dreams are not as noble as his, and I doubt they ever will be. But I was thinking of just how important that is. To have a dream. To realize dreams and aspire to new ones.

Grieving

I lost a friend today, a former colleague. A stand up guy who I only spoke to days ago. Now I can barely speak much less type.

A good start

Go Giants!

2006

Wishing you a Happy New Year.

Im busy making resoltions, keeping promises. Let's have more fun in 06

Meditation, not medication!

Meditation, no not medication!
I'm considering taking up meditation, which sounds a lot like sleep. It's all part of a right brain left brain thing I'm unsure about how to measure the results, or the efforts. (Not like I'll be chanting or anything) unless I get some GIANT play-off tickets. But some sleep would be good. Imagine Marylin chanting de-fense! De-fense! De-fense

Turning 51

Not nearly as traumatic as 50

Grading

I hate giving out grades!

I'm home

There is no place like home! A bit weak, but on the mend. Come visit! Come play!

Student

I've got this student and she seems like a hardship case. I don't typically get involved in this stuff but I feel like if I don't get involved I'm going straight to academia hell. Some might argue that by teaching at BCC that I may already have arrived. But she could be one of the best cartoonists I've ever seen in a college setting.
Sometimes I wonder that if like me she is too proud and unwilling to accept charity or private funding And if she suffers from some of these deadly sins. Pride being one of the seven deadly Sins of St. Thomas Aquinas, (See Abagail Jones Blog) And if like me, she suffers from some of he others.
Either way I feeI have to get this kid to hit pavement running or frequent the gutter with the rest of the geat cartoonists, artist and yes, photographers. I hope she does not suffer from the same Irish Catholic hang-ups that I do, Or perhsps then again I do hope she does.
I don't belive I'm quaified to make this assessment but a boost to her self-esteem seems in order but I'm not sure from her blog posts if or how that can be done. Sounds like an arm wrestling contest to me even is she is up to the conest. But she should be warned that I hate to lose.

Another week then Kessler

I'm getting there!

In the words of Bil "Buba" Clinton...l feel your pain

Marat in a local nursing home
I feel your pain!

Viatamin V

I'm still in the nursing home, trying to work as best I can. A bit stoned on valium. I hope I get out soon, shouldn,'t be long now.

Day 10

Yup, I'm still in the hospital. But I'm doing OK. I feel pretty good all things considered. I'm back to answering e-mail, teaching on-line. I'll let you know when I bust out. Perhaps you will visit when I get home!

Vacationing in Englewood

Having a marvelous time, wish you were here!

Visual Statements

What does your personal vehicle say about you? Does it compensate for some short-comings in life?

Who Are You?

Once a week I get an e-mail from the company that does the site meters on my website and blog. It provides me with some information as to if and how people are referred, where they are from, what time they visited, yadda, yadda yadda. Now with some people I can guess. If they comment then I know. (People rarely post comments and I'm not sure what that says about this good or bad)
But I'd love to know who is posting from:

NJ - Orange, East Orange, Montclair,

St Paul Minn, Strawberry Plains Tenn, (Lots of fans in Tenn apparently)

C'mon, give it up, show me some love!

Material Things

New
Old
Call it eccentric. Many of us have relationships with material things. Some of those are love/hate relationships. Sailors sometimes assign gender to such objects as vessels. I've had a relationship with my personal vehicle for the last 16 years. In popular culture your mode of transportation is a statement of sorts. Vehicles get personalized with style, color, plates, even bumper stickers. When I was a kid, I grew up in a poor neighborhood and those who could afford vehicles treated them like they were members of the family. Acquiring a new car, even a used car was like the arrival of a new child. Born to or adopted to excited relatives. A lot of effort went into cleaning, waxing and general caring for the vehicle. No such celebration here.
My personal vehicle, a 1989 Ford Econoline 150 (Cargo van) in a midnight blue offered little to the observer in the way of clues about me. Handicapped plates, easy-pass, WPU Alumni parking sticker and BCC faculty parking sticker, oh and yes, a faded NJ PBA shield. (Badge Americard, don't leave home without it) 2009,000 miles fades the finish on the van but it owes me nothing.
The interior was bare bones, no creature comforts, weak heating/air-conditioning, noisy and without insulation. Mind you I'm not regretting any of my decisions about purchasing it. I never assigned a gender to it but if I had it would have been male. Rugged, no frills, cold and solid.
On Friday I took possession of a new van. A 2005 Ford Econoline 250 (Conversion Van) brushed gold. Not so noticeable to the observer is the creature comforts. Tinted windows, 8 cylinders as opposed to six, fuel injection 15 inch tires, insulation, carpeting, front and rear air conditioning/heating, remote Key-less remote entry and ignition. The ride is so smooth, the temperature so comfortable, the sound system. I can go on and on. If I had to assign a gender to it it would be female. "She" is sleek, fast and oh so smooth.
Now don't get me wrong, I was not seeking a luxury vehicle. Not looking to make a statement, but you no longer can get a wheelchair accessible van without these options. Regrettably you also have to pay for them.
But I never thought I get sentimental about the old van, but I do recognize it has taken me to my wedding, to gainful employment, and a master's degree. Vacations, photo shoots, and new home, it's been dependable, inexpensive and has provided me with so many opportunities.
It's next life will no doubt be recycled. I'm donating it to charity.
I'm hoping this next relationship is even half as good as the last

Teaching On-Line in Technophobia

I really enjoy teaching on-line. I do!

Critters and Driving Noah's Ark

I was coming home yesterday and began a series of encounters with nature: As I hit Stag Hill Rd, a snapper turtle was crossing the roadway. I gave him a wide berth and then about a 1/4 mile in, I slow down for a turn and there is a raccoon, I stop and we stare at each other for a moment and then I toss him a piece of my bagel. He picks it up and for a moment looks like he is going to throw it back at me. The little ingrate instead drops it. I move on up the hill. Up near the top I see my neighbor cleaning up his front yard. It looks like a bomb went off. Apparently a bear got into his garbage. The small shed he keeps it in was in splinters. (Got to be one big assed bear) As I turn onto Maple a deer runs into the woods behind my house. As I exit the van in my driveway, I'm welcomed by a rabbit. I get in the house and look out back and the cats are glued to the windows. A bunch of wild turkey teasing them. I was tempted to get the camera out, but... Well I just wasn't moved to shoot. As much as I love seeing these critters, I have absolutely no ambition to photograph them. It made me think of a comment by one of my students about photographing a fox that frequents the area. Honestly the only foxes I'm interested in shooting ate the two legged variety.
I slept all day and go to work that night and it's pouring out. As I pass the lake, there is a migration of tree frogs crossing the road. I do my best not to squish them. Then it gets real interesting. I've never seen such heavy rain up there. About halfway down the hill, (The really steep part) the road starts to look funny. That's because it's not there anymore. It's under an inch or two of water, mud and rocks. I begin to skid and head towards the woods. I've had some experience with snow and ice and even fog but never streaming water and what I can only call a mud slide. But it works the same way, pump the brakes really easy and steer into the skid. The van shuddered and groaned a bit but stayed on what appeared to be the road. It took me a while to descend, but I got to the highwaywithout further incident.
I love living on the mountain. But got to refine my respect for mother nature.

Good Advice

You get advice all day long. From your television, computer, the government, lawyers, doctors, employers, colleagues, mentors (If you are so fortunate to have one) friends and even sometimes from your students. And depending on whether or not you believe you are on the right track, you take everyone's advice, analyze, weigh, hash, rehash and eventually come up with a plan. There are some things that I want to do in my life. Some come with strings attached. Some come with high costs not only to one's pocket, but to one's self respect. So it comes down to this; a fork in the road, so to speak. The road on the right leads all the things I want to do. It is the shortest route to where I want to get. On a clear day you can just about see your destination. But there is a toll booth, an expensive one. The road on the left leads to only the things I'm willing to do. It is long and somewhat uphill. It's end is nowhere in sight. And while there is no toll, there is no guarantee you will get to your destination either. The sign on the side of the road reads "uncompromising." And then I hear a voice, my wife, she takes my hand and whispers "I'll be at your side no matter which route you take." I ask her, what she thinks but she need not answer and we turn left. The best advice is right at home.

Follow-up

Just a quick note from Friday night, here are some images: http://pak06.pictures.aol.com/NASApp/ygp/Login?event=DirectView&shareInfo=qehO4z9cYllFNyKCNl29VqG0fk1%2bAGF5IuYcPfhHdnlWGd%2bBXiXp6w%3d%3d&pageName=AlbumViewFromEmails&locale=en_US

Sensory Overload - Yellow Bra

If I saw you at the artist reception at Ruth Ann's http://www.bestlittleframeshop.com/ on Friday evening, I'm sorry we did not get a chance to spend some time together. If I didn't see you, I'm sorry we did not get a chance to spend some time together!
Good food/drink, art, friends, colleagues, students, (Former and current) and family but in such volume that one could not really get some quality time. Hence the sensory overload.
I had a couple pieces in the show, the reaction was pretty good. I got to start doing that, more food/drink, friends and the like! Let's work on that!