1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping – Why haven’t I done this?
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors – Canada counts, right?
35. Seen an Amish community – Mennonite… close enough?
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - It was a fake rock made for climbing, and I did it while drunk.
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book – Self Published
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous – GW Bailey. Alissa Milano.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Up early, unshowered, started work too soon, messy desk filled with computer crap behind me on one side. Messy shelving filled with camera gear behind me on the other side. This is me.

1. Nic
2. Of all the people I talk to regularly today but not counting family, Amanda.
3. For a day? almost anyone. Forever? no one.
4. Cheryl
5. Above all else, myself.
6. Ryan. Jonathan.
7. Laurel.
8. Elizabeth.
9. Emily. Melanie. Melissa.
10. So many of them. So many role models.
11. Myself. Morgan.
12. Jess.
13. Kara.
14. Jet. Joel. (not much, but the closest I can come in my group of friends)
15. Mike. Admit it. He’d look good.
16. Sean.
17. Almost everyone I know, to some extent.
18. No one that I know of.
19. My Dad. Erica.
20. Ryan. Josh.
21. Johnny.
22. Lauren.
23. Um. My actual boss.
24. Mr “Excuse me”.
25. Lots of my friends, actually. Listing them all seems silly.
26. No one.
27. Myself. Gloria. Morgan (I think).
28. Melissa. Melanie.
29. Jess.
30. Hi.

(I really need to start using LJ, MySpace Blog, Facebook Notes, something else for this stuff)

1) Make a post in your blog/journal containing your 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from something cheap and simple, to a your very own country. Include a method of contacting you if it isn’t already well know.

2) Look around amongst your friends and the blogs and journals that you read and see if there are any wishes you can afford to grant. If there is, and it’s in your heart to do so, then give. If you have the ability to “tag” in whatever you use to blog, you may considering using the tag “makeyourwish” so others can find your list more easily.

There are no rules, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you’ll have the joy of knowing you made someone’s holiday special.

My list:

1. original art by YOU and other LIVING art
2. photographs and drawings of animals for the baby’s room
3. human subjects for photography projects
4. A Nikon D300
5. a hiking/camping partner
6. peace within and without
7. large, empty-ish, enclosed spaces for photography projects (warehouses, barns, garages, photo studios, etc)
8. mostly natural land to use for photography projects (fields, pastures, woods, etc)
9. secrets
10. a device to allow for nearly instantaneous transportation (see any number of sci-fi series for reference design, i.e. Star Trek, Star Gate, etc)

email: jim at revjim dot net

accent: I sound like a Californian who grew up with parents who had an upstate New York accent who has lived in Texas for the last half of his life. Most people say I have the pace and inflection of Quentin Tarantino. This, by the way, is not a compliment. 

booze: If I choose it’ll be Martinis (gin please) or Manhattans (extra cherries please). But, usually, I’ll drink whatever you’re drinking.

chore I hate: calling people just to make sure they are doing what they told me they would do. I actually got laughed at — laughed at — by someone yesterday for actually scheduling time each day to follow up and check with people that owe me information. I found myself rather confused that she didn’t.

dogs/cats: I have two cats but would love a dog. Really, I love all animals. Except Raccoons. They are evil and they attack in numbers in the middle of the night. I nearly escaped death by Raccoons last August in Canada. Don’t bother asking Jess. She’s one of them.

essential electronics: if I could only pick one thing, it would be just a plain ole telephone. Of course, the full arsenal includes a mobile phone with data and email capabilities, an iPod, and some form of full screen computing device like a laptop or desktop computer.

flower: Texas Indian Paintbrush

gold/silver: I like the look of both in certain circumstances. For instance, if your an African tribesman and happen to have your ears and armpits pierced with 1/2″ thick hoops, silver just looks tacky — go with gold. But, if I’m going to wear it on a regular basis, I think something silver in color looks best. Platinum works for me.

hometown: Give me a few like minded folks and a small harem and I’ll call it home.

insomnia: Yes please. I miss the old days when I could count on any number of people to be around after midnight. Now, I rarely manage to find even one.

job title: Senior Staff Consultant. Kinda funny, huh?

kids: the bun is in the oven. I repeat, the bun is in the oven.

living arrangements: Currently residing in a cozy 3 bedroom on the South Side of the greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area. I reside there with my hot, loving, wife and two insane felines. We’re expecting the first of an army of open-minded, geeky programmer spawn to arrive in December. Harem and Residential applications are always being accepted. Please email your application, a list of credentials, and several photos of yourself to me for consideration. Thank you.

most admired trait: I personally admire my persistence and tenacity mixed with my great analytical skills. I find that these three things are responsible for the majority of my life’s successes. Then again, they seem to be responsible for some of my greatest losses as well. I would say most other people admire my kindness, caring, open mindedness, or a combination there in. A select few admire me for various physical features.

number of sexual partners: My thoughts and philosophy on sex, love, and intimacy are different enough from what I sense from the majority of people that I feel answering this from my interpretation would lead to some miscommunication. So instead I will say that regardless of how I count this number, most of you will consider my answer to be either average or slightly high. I might also add that I consider myself to be very reserved when it comes to who I share these aspects of my life with and am certain that my number is a lot lower than it would have been had I accepted the same type of opportunities that I’ve seen the majority of people accept.

overnight hospital stays: never

phobia: I don’t care for flying or jumping bugs of any variety though bees, wasps, hornets, and cicada are certainly at the top of that list.

quote: “Floor … burning — must find … pork chops”  — Jim Reverend

religion: I most often identify myself as NeoPagaTrancenDanielIstic. I’ve learned that, along with political discussion and discussions involving sexuality, religious topics should be reserved for a select few. Pick the word apart if you’d like to know a little more. If you’d like to know a lot more, let’s meet for coffee some time. Your place or mine. Wear something… nice.

siblings: I have one brother, one step brother, one half sister, and about 5 or 10 other people that I am close enough with to consider to be adopted brothers or sisters.

time I usually wake up: somewhere between 4:30 and 6:30am, depending on when I went to bed the night before.

unusual talent: really, I don’t consider any of my talents unusual. If you’d like to examine my full range of skills and let me know which of them are unusual I’ll submit to such scrutiny. Your place or mine. Wear something… nice.

worst habit: I have a tendency to push most open ended questions or situations to an end in the interests of clarity. Most of the time this works out well but, in the past, it has destroyed a few

x-rays: from my eyes, usually. sometimes from my finger tips.

yummy foods: popcorn. peanut m&ms. cherry garcia ice cream.

zodiac: cancer. I don’t know much more than that but I’d be happy to have a full work up. Just say when. Wear something… nice.

2. What body part do you hate?
My gut, my legs, and my third penis.

3. Who was the hottest teacher you ever had?
Mrs. Mercado. Oh my god! I had a big crush on her from 2nd to at least 6th grade.

4. Have you ever made out in a garage?
Um…. I don’t think so. But maybe.

5. What’s your reason for doing this survey?
For every internet survey you take, Bill Gates will mail you $0.10. It’s part of a new internet program to test new Microsoft tracking software. Try it.

6. Do you have any piercings?
One: in between my big toe and first toe on my right foot. It’s stretched enough that I usually keep a master lock there. It’s symbolic, ya know?

7. Do you have any tattoos?
Yeah. But I’ll only show you if you show me.

8. Is your driveway steep?
In Texas, No. In New York… not really. So, I guess the answer is just no. Well, not “just no”. Just no. Errr. I mean, the answer is no, and nothing else. Not counting the “and nothing else” part, of course. You know?

9. What’s your favorite flavored Pringles?
Plain. That way I can imagine my own seasonings.

10. Have you ever been tied up?
Oh hell yeah! Back in the 80s, we had this phone in our kitchen with a 50+ foot cord (because cordless wasn’t really a thing yet) and I’d walk all around the house talking on it and several times I got very tied up because my girlfriend would call me up and tell me to spin around in circles really fast, so I would. I’d tell her to stop, but she wouldn’t. I’d even use the safe word, but she wouldn’t listen. … I wish they made mobile phones with really long cords like that. I miss them.

11. What was the worst thing you ever got grounded for?
When the cops called my parents to report my car as abandoned because it was found on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere when, in actuality we were up in the top of a nearby barn drinking and such.

12. Have you ever had two dates in one night?
Every night has two dates, the one before midnight and the one after. And the one after can be much uglier since, by then, I’ve already had a lot to drink.

13. Which shoe do you put on first?
Whichever I pick up first.

14. How old are you?
I lost track after 500; somewhere around 1500. Oh wait, you mean in this life… 29.

15. Have you ever been in a gay bar?
Oh yes. Spent my 21st birthday in one. Didn’t even realize it was a gay bar for at least 45 minutes because I was too focused on the hot thing playing the piano. Turns out he was gay too. Damn it.

16. Have you ever had any Friends with Benefits?
If a friend doesn’t come with benefits, what’s the point of having them?

17. Is there one thing all of the times you have been in love have in common?
The Police have been involved.

18. Have you ever been cow-tipping or snipe-hunting?
No, and No.

19. Who is the last person you usually think about before you fall asleep?
Jess. Or your mom. Especially last night. Damn.

20. Have you ever had a song written about you?
Jess writes me songs all the time.

21. If you had to choose to not ever wash your bed sheets or your towel ever which would it be?
Eh. It wouldn’t matter. If I couldn’t wash my sheets, I’d just shower before and after bed each day and air them out once a week. And if I couldn’t wash my towel, I’d either drip dry, or just roll around in my sheets and then replace them.

22. Have you ever found anything in your parents’ bedroom that was questionable?
Yes. It wasn’t questionable at the time, though. I just figured everyone’s parents must keep spices under the bathroom sink.

23. What was your childhood nickname?
Little Man! No really. It was.

24. When is the last time you played the air guitar?
When was the last time the radio was on?

25. Have you ever peeked in the opposite sex’s locker room?
I’ve TRIED, but only from spots that I was allowed to be in. It wasn’t ever very successful.

26. What’s the weirdest thing you have done while driving?
Weird? I don’t understand. If I do anything weird, then I’m sure I’ve done it while driving too.

27. Have you ever bitten your toenails?
Even if I could, I wouldn’t. But I’m pretty sure I can’t.

28. How do you normally eat your Oreo cookies?
I don’t really eat Oreos.

29. How many drinks does it take before you get drunk?
Depends on who’s serving them and what their intent is.

30. Why are you doing this survey?
Again, it’s for the $0.10. I need it. Bad. I have a house to buy.

31. What was the best year of your life?
Seriously, every year seems better than the last. I’ve had some darker years in the past where that wouldn’t be true, but, since Jess and I got together, things have only gotten better and better.

32. Any strange phobias?
I fear holes. No really. If there’s a hole that I can’t see the bottom/top of, I don’t like it: holes in the ground, changing air conditioning filters, sticking my hand in the garbage disposal, etc.

33. Have you ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?
Nope. Only American objects.

34. whens the last time you threw up?
I don’t shut up, I grow up, and when I look at you a throw up.

35. Have you ever called your love interest by another girl/guys name?
Only on purpose.

36. Have you ever gotten caught sleeping while on a date?
I usually wait for her to fall asleep first. Easier to undress her without her knowing.

37. Have you ever played naked Twister?
Naked games are fun. But, of them all, I’m sure Twister is the worst.

38. Have you ever been drunk at work/school?
No and no.

39. How many Ellie’s do you know?
I’m with Tanya on this one: what’s an Ellie?

40. how old do you want to die?
I used to say 35. Sounded like a good number to go out with a bang on. With a wife and a kid on the way, I’ll extend that a bit. Take me out when I’m 40. I’ll do my best to populate the Earth before then. Just form one line to the left please.

Ok, here goes.

1) Name two factors that majorly influenced your childhood.
Living in Inland California and moving to Texas in the middle of my Sophomore year

2) What is the most recent thing that has surprised or shocked you?
The realization that I am living almost entirely for others and very little for myself.

3) What makes you feel like a kid again?
Snow Cones and The Ice Cream Man. “Ice Cream Man! Mom! Give me a MONEY!“

4) If you could design something of your own creation with complete access to everything you need at no cost, what would you create?
A photography book exploring various people (famous and not-so-famous) as they progress through regular aspects of daily life (i.e. getting ready in the morning, making dinner, showering, getting ready for bed, working, etc) in extraordinary or interesting ways.

5) Do you have brand loyalty (otherwise known as a Lovemark)? If so, to whom are you loyal?
Only in situations where I’ve been locked in by a brand for compatibilities sake.

6) Name an unusual pet peeve you have.
People eating even remotely messy food while driving a car.

7) What was the last thoughtful thing that you did for someone else?
I called my mom on the way to work this morning, does that count? I drove to Denton and back on Saturday to pick up a friend for a photo session that we’d both been wanting to do.

8) Growing up, you were known as the kid who ___ .
Early On: knew everything. Later: always had a girlfriend. Later Still: was screwed up thanks to his girlfriend.

9) What is your most notable trait?
Perseverance.

10) Do you enjoy getting dressed up? Why or why not?
Yes! Aside from when I go hiking or do something that going to cause me to get dirty and sweaty, I prefer to look nice. I really don’t know why, I just like looking nice. Of course a lack of time and funds doesn’t always let that happen. But I do as often as I can. And, from time to time, I think it’s really fun to get really dressed up and go out, even though I don’t really have anyone who wants to get dressed up and go out with me. :) 

This was the longest survey ever. You’d better read every damn word! :)

Basic info:
1. What’s your middle name?
James. As in Daniel James.

2. Where were you born?
The beautiful high desert town of Victorville, CA. At least I remember it as beautiful. It’s been at least 18 years or so since I’ve been there.

3. Where have you lived and where do you live now?
With Parents: Colton, CA; San Bernardino, CA; Bloomington, CA; Irving, TX; Keller, TX

With Roommates: Fort Worth, TX (w/Tony); North Richland Hills, TX (w/Dan); Bedford, TX (w/Dan); Hurst, TX (w/Dan, David, and Julie); Euless, TX (two apartments, practically lived with Kim); Carrollton, TX (w/Brad then Jaclyn); Dallas, TX (w/Justin, directly above Joel and Emily)

With Jess: Irving, TX (across the street from Brad and Morgan); Plano, TX; Savannah, TX

Yeah. I move a lot.

4. What do you do for work? Are you in your desired profession or are you working toward something else (what?)?
I am a project manager and staff consultant for one of the largest telecommunications providers in the US. It’s hard to consider this my desired profession, simply because the specifics of the job are general enough to be used in any profession. The work is fulfilling enough on a good day, however it’s certainly not anything I ever desired to grow up to be.

If I could be anything I wanted, I’d be a professional photographer or a teacher. Or both.

5. Do you collect anything? (If so, what?)
I collect stories and feelings and moments as photographs.

6. Do you have a particular affinity for anything?
I have a few vices.

I crave attention. You probably wouldn’t know it, but it’s true. Not attention in that way that means I need 100 people around me at all times, but I like to be thought of. Maybe it’s pathetic but it really makes my day if someone goes out of their way to show me that they care or are thinking of me. Like today when Jess drove all the way to Irving just to help me pick out glasses when I didn’t even ask her to because she knew I’d like some help.

When it comes to food, I love popcorn. Nothing fancy. Just a little salt and, maybe, from time to time, a little butter. I also love milk. When I actually let myself drink milk, I usually drink so much that my belly hurts.

The only other affinity I can think of is a bit dirty, so you’ll have to email me if you want to know. Most of you that have ever seriously flirted with me probably already do, though. And the rest of you probably don’t care. :)

7. What’s your view on religion and/or spirituality?
First of all, I believe that the true atheists — those that believe we actually came from a big spark and just evolved into what we are now — are fooling themselves. Beyond that, I can’t be certain. I tend to find peace, meaning, power, and reverence in that bond that two or more people seem to share the supercedes any physical connection. This is why I take such great interest in the lines we draw.

Growing up (childhood/teenage years):
1. What is your most vivid memory?
I have too many to count. Here’s a short list.

1. Punching my best friend, Scott Mills, in the back for no reason at the monkey bars on the playground. (7yrs)
2. Watching my first porn that just so happened to involve bananas with my friends Tony and Anthony. (10 yrs)
3. My first real kiss. It was with Julie Thompson outside the locker room. (12 yrs)
4. Getting caught feeling up my girlfriend by her sister. (13 yrs)
5. Crying in the rain at the dumpster in our first Texas apartment complex trying to find the box of stuff I threw away the night before in anger and realizing the garbage man had come. (14 yrs)

2. What is the most random memory you’ve recently remembered?
Most of my memories are random, so, it’s hard to decide which is the MOST random. I do recall, now that I’m trying to think of things, the one time I actually got with the girl I had wanted so bad the last few years of elementary school and all through junior high. 6 years after the fact we actually hooked up once. It was, interesting.

3. What was your favorite toy (one for all of your different ‘phases’ is okay)?
My computer. A first a Timex Sinclair. Then a TRS-80. Then an x386.

4. What was your favorite book? Did you read it again as an adult? How did your perception of the book change, or did it?
I really enjoyed all of Shel Silverstein’s poetry and found myself reading it quite often in earlier years. Towards the end of my teenage years I enjoyed the poetry of William Blake the most.

5. Were you indoors or outdoors more often?
I’ve always been pretty outdoorsy. My dad used to take us hiking all over the deserts and mountains of California. As I got older that lessened a but, until about 7 or 8 years ago when it came back full swing.

6. What music did you listen to (again, by ‘phase’ is okay)?
Prior to High School, I listen to country and oldies like my parents did. Towards the end of Junior High and into my Sophomore year of High School I listened to metal. G-N-F-N-R, Metallica, etc. My favorite bands were Def Leppard and Tesla. Towards the end of High School I was a big punk fan enjoying Tilt, the Queers, Green Day, Propaghandi, Screeching Weasel, Jawbreaker, Face to Face, Operation Ivy, the Vandals, and many, many more.

7. Were you radically different as a teenager than you are now? If so, how?
Externally, I was certainly different. But, inside, I think I had the same desires, the same fears, and the same very general goals. It’s kind of sad to think that I may not have progressed at all in the past 10 years.

8. Given the choice, would you have preferred video games, board games, or the arcade?
Board Games

Random Questions:
1. If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?
I don’t really know super heroes, but from Heroes the TV show I would want to be Hiro.

2. What’s your favorite color and why?
Brown. Because I like it.

3. What type of animal is your favorite? Why?
Cats, Turtles and Frogs. Cats because they are honest with what they intend to offer and what they expect from you. Turtles because there’s something majestic about creatures that live for such a great length of time. I don’t know why I like frogs.

4. Not considering anything except looks (ignore gas mileage, cost, etc), what vehicle would be your next purchase?
A Hummer or a Range Rover, purely for the off-road prowess.

5. Name three things you’re good at.
1) photography
2) seeing a situation from all angles
3) counting
4) listening

6. Name three hobbies that you’ve had in the past.
1) photography
2) rock polishing
3) hiking/exploring
4) guitar

7. What hobbies are you currently pursuing?
same as above. well, minus the rock polishing.

8. What kinds of music do you listen to (no cop-outs on this question! I want specifics!)?
specifics? ok… Mike Doughty/Soul Coughing; Regina Spektor; Dave Matthews; Smashing Pumpkins; Ben Harper; Josh Ritter; Old 97s

9. Do you prefer movies or television? Why?
I don’t really prefer one over the other.

10. What TV shows have you watched all episodes of?
Lost, House, Heroes, BSG, Buffy, Saved by the Bell, Friends, CSI all of them, NCIS.

11. What type of movie is your favorite and why? On this question, I’d like a description of the genre or style, not specific movies (but maybe as examples).
Anything that makes me think.

12. How do you recharge when you’re physically and/or mentally worn out?
usually, time alone. maybe I’ll listen to music, read a book, watch TV, or enjoy the finer points of being alone and pantless.

13. Tell me something I don’t know about you.
I don’t think there’s anything I could write here that would be true for everyone who would read it.

14. Tell me a strange habit that you have.
I cannot stand the smell of food on my hands. After most meals I have to use the restroom and wash my hands so I don’t smell them all day.

15. Write a haiku. 5-7-5
Though it’s wrong, I know,
I feel good seeing you now.
You don’t look happy.

16. Describe your favorite article of clothing.
My North Face tech pants are awesome: They are comfortable; They are cool when needed and warm when needed; They don’t look bad in a pinch; I can kneel in mud and, within 20 minutes, they’ll be dry and clean again; they make my ass look great!

17. Describe your favorite used-item purchase (e.g. from a thrift store, resale shop, antique store, etc).
A T-Shirt from Oregon that says “Volunteers Make a Difference”

18. What kinds of food are “comfort food” to you? Do you make it yourself, or do you preferred it prepared by someone or someplace in particular?
Popcorn. Or Popcorn and Milk. Or, if it’s real bad, Popcorn, Milk, and Chocolate.

19. What makes you feel “old”? Does it worry you, or do you laugh about it?
My joints hurt a lot more than they used to. It worries me.

20. Recommend three websites: one blog link, one serious link, and one humorous link.
Blog: Dive Into Mark – All around interesting Geek Guy.
Serious: Strobist – Seriously Cheap flash.
Humorous: HijinksEnsue – Funny webcomic written by a friend of mine.

But I still think it’s important. So, a day late, here it is.

1. I’ll get to spend the entire month of August with my wife. That alone is a real feat for us lately. But, to make it even better, I get to spend five whole weeks with my wife outside of Texas.

   Three of the Five weeks will be spent in Syracuse. The remaining two weeks will be spent in Canada. I’m even going to get to go visit my mom, my aunt, and my grandma one weekend. And, aside from the days I must spend working, our time will be spent doing things we enjoy, because we enjoy them, with no one else getting in the way. I intend to spend a lot of time taking photographs. And, while in Canada, I may even get to go on an overnight canoeing or camping trip with Mel. Wooo!

   Special thanks to Stacey and Alan and Kristy and Kal for making sure that our kitties stay safe and cared for while we’re away.

2. This weekend is my birthday. Sunday to be precise. While I don’t particularly care to grow old, any excuse I can use to see my friends is worth it in my book.

   Tonight we’re going out to Dinner with Mike. Saturday afternoon, if we don’t get rained out, we’ll be spending time with friends at a park in Mansfield. Sunday I get to spend time with my family. More than likely I’ll spend one or both mornings photographing something somewhere (let me know if you’re interested in coming along). Mixed in there somewhere, I’m sure I’ll see more of the people I love and care about.

3. I’m so grateful for the small sparks of meaning that come with the conversations I have with friends from time to time. The most recent spark involved the understanding that, sometimes, appearing weak and vulnerable around friends is not the way to strengthen that friendship or get what I want out of it. Sometimes, confidence and a hint of aggression is what is needed.

If you had the power, what would your ideal weather be today?

My ideal weather for today is the same as it would be on any day. I like temperatures between 65 and 75 with a cool breeze. I like the sky to be partially cloudy. Every now and then, a nice rain is good. I can do without the hot sunny days unless the come with very low dew points — somewhere in the 30s would be great. Really, I can find something to enjoy in almost any climate as long as dew point is low. I can’t handle it hot and humid. I find it’s the quickest way to turn me into a recluse.

“Download This:” What songs are you happy to put on repeat these days?

I actually have a play list called “Right Now” that rarely contains more than 10 tracks. If I’m in the mood for repeating music I use that playlist and I change the tracks in it regularly. It’s not always the most complex music. Often the songs aren’t even “good” except that I somehow can’t seem to get enough of them. “Since U Been Gone” is probably the strongest occurrence of this in the history of me.

Currently, the list contains the following:

1. Colorful – Rocco Deluca
2. Wings – Josh Ritter
3. Girlfriend – Avril Lavigne
4. Train Song - Phish
5. Mayonnaise – Smashing Pumpkins

What’s your worst dumping experience?

Oddly enough, I’ve, technically, never been dumped as in had an official boyfriend-girlfriend relationship ended by the other party. However, I’ve had a few unofficial relationships ended. The worst of all of these has to be Ashley.

Ashley was a stripper and a coke addict and, despite many warnings from many people, I just couldn’t get enough of her. To this day, strangely enough, I still think fondly on the good times that we had.

She started growing distant after a while and the only explanation I was ever given was that she still really liked me but she was just really confused and not sure what she wanted and wasn’t even sure she wanted to date MEN any more. That hurt quite a bit, but I let her have whatever freedom she felt she needed. Eventually, we talked less and less until we hardly talked at all. Then, one day I heard through the grapevine that she had started seeing someone else. I was truly heart broken. I decided to just stop contacting her altogether. About a month or so later, out of the blue, my phone was ringing and her name was on the display. My heart jumped with excitement as I answered the phone.

Hello. “Hi, Daniel, it’s Ashley.” Oh! Hi! How are you? “Good. Listen I wanted to ask you a favor?” Um… sure okay, what’s up? “My boyfriend and I are thinking about starting a porn site starring me and I was hoping you could give him some pointers on the technical side of it all?” … “Daniel?” … “Are you there?” … Um. Yeah. Um. Sure… I’d be happy to. I’m busy now, though, can you call back later?

I never answered the phone again.

What quirks/annoying qualities/pet peeves do you have in a car – either driving or passenger side?

My biggest pet peeve is people who are doing something to block traffic, put lives in jeopardy, or otherwise cause strife to other road sharers while, at the same time, holding a mobile phone to their face. I’ve been known to go out of my way to humiliate and reprimand people who do this.

I don’t have a problem with people using the phone when they drive as long as they can do it without causing a disturbance or putting any lives at risk. As drivers, we all have the safety of one another in our hands. When the phone interferes with your ability to drive, you’re basically saying that your phone is more important than your life or the lives of the other people sharing the road with you. If that’s how you feel about me, then I have no reason to hold you in any higher regard.

My second biggest pet peeve is people who eat inappropriate car food in the car – especially the driver. French fries are easy. Potato chips, fine. A granola bar, great. A messy, dripping hamburger that you have to cram into your face in order to bite, an ear of butter dripping corn, or barbequed pork ribs are all absolutely out of the question. Looking over and seeing someone with one hand on the wheel and the other hand cramming something into, and all over their face absolutely disgusts me. 

One time, while on a road trip, my mom actually purchased clam chowder at a restaurant to feed my dad by the spoonful as we drove, at night, in the ice, over a windy treacherous mountain. I thought I was going to be sick. Jess and I have discussed this at length and we’ve decided that, most likely, the worst possible food one could be seen eating in a car would be a big plate of spaghetti with marina sauce. I can picture now the slurping of each subsequent noodle causing even more red spots to appear on the back side of the windshield and all over the eaters face.

Best and Worst Things of The Week

Best: Feeling a sense of pride in myself for the work that I perform in my day job as well as my growing abilities as an artistic photographer.

Worst: Knowing that something I did hurt Jess and wanting so badly to somehow make life right and still be able to take it all back.

The Everything Test

There are many different types of tests on the internet today. Personality tests, purity tests, stereotype tests, political tests. But now, there is one test to rule them all.

Traditionally, online tests would ask certain questions about your musical tastes or clothing for a stereotype, your experiences for a purity test, or deep questions for a personality test.We’re turning that upside down – all the questions affect all the results, and we’ve got some innovative results too! Enjoy :-)

Stereotypes Prep 85% Young Professional 82% Old Geezer 80%

Life Experience Sex 50% Substances 29% Travel 41%

Politics Your political views would best be described as Libertarian, whom you agree with around 68% of the time.

Socioeconomic Your attitude toward life best associates you with Lower Middle Class. You make more than 0% of those who have taken this test, and 46% more than the U.S. average.

If your life was a movie, it would be rated PG-13. By the way, your hottness rank is 57%, hotter than 80% of other test takers.

TAKE THE TEST
brought to you by thatsurveysite

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better. If I already know you well, expect the questions to be more intimate!
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here are the questions “Emily”:http://lilistar.livejournal.com/ asked me:

1. *What is one of your current passions?*

Photography, of course. But really, it’s only a means to an end.

I am also a Computer Programmer. Some would say I have a passion for Programming. But again, it is only a means to an end. My true passion is in solving problems. Computer Programming is only a tool that allows that to happen.

So, with photography, my passion really, is people, and nature, and expression, and art. Photography is tool that I use to get closer to those things.

2. *Are my photos edited yet? :P*

Ha. Haha. Ha. No.

Actually, a lot of people ask me that a lot of the time. When there is a specific goal our outcome in mind for the photographs that are taken, or when I am being compensated in some way for my work, portraits are generally edited with a few weeks. My last session like this was on January 7th. Despite having a 2 week vacation thrown in there, I still was able to deliver images from that session this week, only 4 weeks later.

With special projects I often take my time to mull over exactly how I want to present the final result. So, if you someone participates in a special project and, at the same time, has portraits taken, they will often see the portraits way before the special project images. In fact, one large project, Skins, has been a year in the making and most of my participants have not seen any images from it.

With all other sessions — test sessions — often practicing the technique, trying an environment, getting comfortable with a new model, or exploring a new idea is often the goal of a shoot, and the images that come out of it, though often very interesting, are secondary to the education obtained. It is in these cases (which yours was one of) that image editing often gets put on the back burner to make room for more immediate projects and commitments.

I’ve realized, though, in the past 6 months or so, that it’s important to edit even those images in order to fully realize the potential of whatever was being tested, as well as to convince the model or other interested parties, that further tests should be conducted. Therefore, I’m now making an effort to edit all of the portrait sessions that have sat on the back burner. I have about 5 or 6 sessions (or partial sessions) that are outstanding. Once I get those cleaned up, I intend to clean up my backlog of excursion photos (West Texas, The Texas Bayou, Vermont/Canada, Long Timbers Trail, etc).

3. *Would you prefer to go to a large social gathering or hanging out with a smaller group?*

Can I say both? Yeah? Okay then… both!

I prefer large gatherings from time to time because it gives me a chance to meet new people, make new friends, and be silly in a way that can’t be done in a small group. However, I also prefer the intimacy that comes with a smaller group: the one on one conversations; the more serious brand of innuendo; the sometimes mind bending conversations; the closeness that you feel after having spent a close evening with someone.

If I could only pick one or the other for the rest of my life, I’d go with the small group. I can always meet new people some other way.

4. *What is something you want to change about yourself?*

My weight.

My dependency on external validation.

5. *How did you decide to buy the house you are in?*

It was cute, it was new, we could afford it, and it was only 30 minutes from where we lived before.