More Clouds

As stated previously, here at America's Finest Blog we would be looking at clouds. And it is not just a ploy to show sunset photos. It is a ploy to show super awesome photos of clouds and sky. Tonight's photo, taken in 2005 in east King County.

Clouds

The sky and clouds are great things to photograph. The next few nights I am going to dedicate America's Finest Blog to clouds. Why you ask, because they are great things to photograph. Also they have nothing to do with oil prices, Middle Eastern strife or Japanese nuclear plants. Speaking of Japanese nuclear plants, does it seem the American media has become somewhat bored by the lack of Chernobyl like action? More questions about Japan and the American media, why would or should a newspaper or news service run a headline that says, Japan vows to re-build? Isn't that more or less a given? Now if the Emperor came on T.V. and said, that the Government had decided to abandon the island nation and move to Sri Lanka, that would be news. Anyway enjoy the clouds.

Dan

This Man

This man with an arrow coming out of his ear, is celebrating a birthday, and he is celebrating a birthday the only way you can on St. Patrick's day, stealing cookies and chocolate coins wrapped in golden tin foil from leprechauns. Seriously, we did that become part of St. Patrick's Day? This is a day for wearing green, mercilessly pinching those who forgot to wear green and drinking (assuming you are old enough or have a fake ID). Kids leaving cookies for leprechauns is silly.

Change of Plans

I was going to take the time to write about the great Ephrata Fire or the absurdity of our elected officials in Olympia and their desire to fix the State's budget issues by trying to cut funding for DNR trails (again) and the State History Museum. It will save nearly 5.5 million dollars of the next two years, which is super, however the State is short 3.5 billion dollars (at least). Now it could be that the problem with the State is that they have funded hundreds of millions of projects like this and that's why we are short the money, or it could be that Olympia once again doesn't want to make real cuts to their pet projects. Whatever it is, I am not discussing it, because my baby sent me a letter. Okay it actually was a text message, but you get the idea.

Cicely and Quin are in San Diego, visiting her family, I did not go down this time. I am here is rainy Washington. Anyway the text said, that Quincy wanted to go home now, because he misses me. Being the sappy dork I am, I find this to be very touching. So tonight a picture of Quincy, I miss him and his Mom very much.

Dan

Sudden Change

Once again we all have been reminded just how quickly the world can change and all things that were probably important yesterday suddenly, however temporarily, do not seem to matter. You like to think that the events that we see played out on the television are something that couldn't or won't happen too you. Or you think that it just isn't fair to be riding a train home from work one minute and to swept away by a 30 foot wave in the next. it just goes to prove that nothings guaranteed in life, including life it's self. But it does go to show just how important it is to actively live life. There are literally millions of Japanese I would guess that would willingly trade places with even the most troubled of us. Here at America's Finest Blog our hopes and prayers go out to the people of Japan.

Another Busy Weekend

So once again, a weekend seemed to be as busy and crazy as the work week. Even though it was a three day weekend. Oh well. I did however get a few moments to get out and take a few photos of something other than my family strumming the ol' banjo. I made it up to Rattlesnake Lake, which once again provided to be a great place to experience late afternoon sunlight. Moments like this remind that the place I make my home is a great place.

More Banjo

Cicely is not the only person that has taken a liking to the banjo, Quin too enjoys playing it. Although Quin is a bit limited with regards to what he can do. After all the thing is probably taller than he is. No matter, it is nice to see the boy interested in music. He is a ceaseless source of amusement and happiness. No matter what sort to stupidity is occurring around me, he is a joy.

Like Christmas in March

The title of tonight's post does not refer to the beautiful weather we have been experiencing here in the great Pacific Northwest, but instead the joy currently being experienced by my wife. You see she has finally gotten her banjo. So many years she has wanted one, and finally a couple weeks ago she purchased one. It arrived yesterday and since then she has been on cloud number nine. She's learned three cords and four picking patterns and has sore fingers, not bad for 24 hrs she says, and I agree. It's just another reason I love so.

10 Years Later

Its been ten years since the Nisqually Quake. I could wax on about the day itself, but I don't think I will, instead I am thinking about what different world I lived in back in February of 2001. 9/11, had yet to happen, so the world as I had know it for 30 years was largely the same, or at least existed within an upper and lower boundary. That boundary was not affected by the Nisqually Quake. I do remember going straight home after the quake, and watching it on T.V. just like my parents, especially my mom, would have wanted me to do. I remember thinking two things, this is a big deal and what a beautiful day, so lets go check it out. So that is what we did, Cicely and I went downtown and walked around and took pictures. Like I said, what a beautiful day it was. Ten years later, those boundaries, both personal and global have moved and expanded in some ways and contracted in others. One of those things that has expanded over the years, is my love for Cicely. We hadn't been dating 6 months yet, when this happened, I loved her then and I love her now, but now it's 10 years of love, a stronger and more substantial type of love. Without her, over the years I would have collapsed like so many of those brick buildings in Sodo.

Let Winter Begin

Now that February is coming to a close, it is time for winter to really kick in. It seems that the most sinister part of Al Gore's climate change agenda is to ruin March and April. Long not the nicest of months in Western Washington, March and April have in recent years become down right disagreeable, usually more winter-like than most of winter. Rain and snow and temperatures in the 30's and low 40's, has long been a staple of January and February, but now thanks to a whole host of evils, including Walmart, GE, the KGB, the Japan Mafia's weather control device and you, March and April are just as miserable. What ever happened to the simplistic version of global warming, when Seattle turns into San Diego, at least climate-wise. Just more broken promises. I know I have done this post at least 50 times now, or something like that, but no matter how pretty it is, snow after President's Day is just disappointing. But since it is pretty you can get photo's like this.

Enjoy.

Dan

End of a Week

Friday could not come soon enough, yet again. Two days of snow and 3:45 AM conference calls will drain you. I feel like this old home in tonight's photo. That is to say, I feel old. But it is the weekend and now I have time to enjoy the things I like to enjoy. The highlight of the week, was when my son, asked how do mermaids poop.

Stress: The Yang To A Relaxing Weekend's Yin

I will start by saying my weekend was actually rather nice and pleasant for about 90% of it. I was able to get out and take photos both mornings. We went out to breakfast at the Salish Lodge with a four year old and it went really well and the food was great. And the sun was out, not bad really. It's the other ten percent that is the trouble, in this week that didn't need any additional anything, I had a ton of addtional dropped this morning. Good times, but hey at least 90% of the weekend was great.

Yet Again

It has become evident that everything is going haywire, from Bahrain to Wisconsin everyone is mad and wants change. Or at least what they want. That is why living Washington State is so refreshing, it's not like we don't have high unemployment, periodic water shortages and a massive shortfall in the state budget, we just handle it differently. In Wisconsin the Democratic Party took an impromptu road trip to Rockford, Illinois. In Bahrain, thousands have hit the streets to protest, but Washington, yet again, we've decided the best way to solve a multi billion dollar hole in the budget, is to close DNR trails, such as Mount Si. Never mind, a per use fee at the Mount Si trail head could keep the DNR afloat. It is the same old predictable stuff from Olympia. But I am an optimistic type a guy, so I believe someday Olympia will have legislators that will work and make the tough decisions. Until then maybe we should do like the Wisconsin Democrats and go on a road trip, maybe to The Dalles.

Dan

In Print Again

Once again the annual photo contest by the weekly paper has come and gone. Once again I did not win, but it doesn't matter, I just don't care. Once again one of my photos was chosen for the paper. This time, the photo was of my son, I was able to show him a picture of himself in the paper. It was pretty cool actually, and I think liked it, but I think he liked the photo of the train a bit more, oh well. I like this photo, it wasn't the first time we had been to the falls, but it probably was the first time his brain really processed what he was seeing. For the rest of his life, the feelings he will have about this place and that water, and who knows what else, had its genesis there at that moment. At least that is what I see when I look at the photo.

Enjoy

Dan

Unexpected Change

Lately, I have really only have done two things, work or sleep. Sometimes I eat while working or on the good bits I stop to eat and then go back to work, you get the picture. Basically, enjoyment of life has taken a backseat to work as of late. I more or less, took no photos in January and haven't taken many more in February. What of course makes January and February so difficult is the sometimes ceaseless rain, which can be a de-motivator when it comes to taking photographs, I mean just how many ugly Sunday damp rain photos can you take, or do you really want to take. So this weekend I had the opportunity not to work and after sitting in my house for the better part of Saturday, enjoying nothingness, or at least doing nothing important, Sunday's sunshine was a call to get out. I decided to take some photos, but alas, but the time I went out to shoot, the sun was gone and the sky overcast and blah had set in. But I was out looking at least. Considering this place or that, and what condition would make it ideal, when I came across a scene I have pasted hundreds of times, but today it was different. For the first time, the Ford in the photo was replaced by grey dead grass, marking the spot the Ford had so long occupied. The sight is no longer as interesting, just another reminder our valley is changing and the things we take for granted are fleeting, today an old Ford truck, tomorrow 50 acres of trees and the quiet life at the edge of the Cascades.

Brier

Brier the word has so much meaning. I remember it was a place that my mother loathed, it didn't even have a proper library, the people were of a lesser standing, so on and so forth. For my part I really didn't see much of a difference between Brier or Lynnwood or Mountlake Terrace, all working class suburban towns that grew up in the 50's and 60's. No real history, no real style and without a soul. Just a place to park your car at night.

Growing up many of friends lived in Brier and I can remember in my high school years, playing Basketball at Brier Park until the wee hours, and causing mayhem and having to escape by taking off and running through cow pasture. And then there were the cops, I was probably pulled over by the Brier PD 15 times my junior year of high school. Mostly for nothing in particular and it always ended with a warning, not to do anything and leave to town. It was always a game of cat and mouse.

I enjoyed leaving so much, I don't miss the place. I have probably been through Brier less than a dozen times in since I left Snohomish County. Now I don't have any photos of Brier, so instead a picture of a horse that was likely from Brier.

Enjoy

Dan

A Found Photo

I realized tonight that I have a big stack of antique store photos to scan. So since I am not doing that tonight, I show a found photo. Tonight's found photo is one, my son would love, ancient construction machines. Really I know nothing about this photo, so you can fill in the blanks with your own story.

Child-like Enthusiasm

I will be taking my son to a model railroad show for the second time in a month, boy does he like trains. I like them too, but nothing like him, he really loves them. It maybe what makes him the happiest. It makes me happy too, to see the enjoy and wonder in his eyes.

What to Use

As I type I have one week to get my best of the valley photographs together for 2010 and figure out what to submit. It's nice to have something to look forward to over a period of time. Choosing photographs this year will be tough, I don't think I took a valley shot as iconic or interesting as some I took last year. At least it is enjoyable. So tonight keeping with the valley theme, two kodachrome shots from last year. I am not sure they'll make the cut, but you need to start somewhere.

Eight Days

It is time move on from considering why Seattle Mayor McGinn is a bad guy for disliking Olympia politicians in general and governor specifically, because they cannot be trusted (his words) and they want a tunnel to replace the viaduct. Instead it is time to which three photos to submit for the annual valley photo contest. Decisions...