Remember our last minute overnight camping trip to Lake Mongaup? We drove the car, which ment we could pack everything we own, including Ivan, obviously.
As we were getting ready to go, I got this from Ivan, which is normal... I would say its his "What are you doing with all that stuff?" face.
Once we hit the road it was pretty much smooth sailing until we found our way to camp.
Route 9 is very scenic and cool.
We pretty much camped right on the lake, which was cool too.
We went for a drive to explore and ended up at Pizza Hut. It was pretty good.
The ranger told us to check out the "waterfall", I assume this was it. It was more of a water-sloping-downward-a-little-more-than-normal-fall.
You threw some rocks.
Ivan opted for the occasional branch.
But mostly did this...
Ivan played frisbee into the night, as seen here.
The fire was the highlight of the night. We blew on it and took pictures of the sparks.
Sarah had dinner with friends, it was at a special place that takes three hours to get your food. So Ivan and I watched Jean-Michel Basquait: Radiant Child, it was good. I would recommend it.
Above is an example of his art. I think this was Untitled.
I took a few pictures of my favorite moments:
And made some sketches of my own while I watched...
So that's it, it was a perfect raining-on-a-Friday-night in the beginning of June with nothing else to do, in New York kind of thing to do.
Remember our trip into the city to the Temple? We had to fill the tire up with air and I put in too much oil in the bike. We rode over the Queensboro Bridge and made our way through the Upper East Side over to 65th and Columbus.
After you had to pick race numbers for the upcoming New York Women's Mini 10k. It's right by the Guggenheim, so I parked while you went inside. We took family photos after, the lighting was perfect.
Remember going to the Niketown on 57th St after, we both had to replace our Fuel Bands. You got white ice and I got black ice. The guy there helped us set them up. I almost got lost our way back out to where we parked. On our way down Park Ave, I reminded you of the SUNL scooter I used to ride, you thought this was very funny. I guess it was...
After we ate the best lunch ever at Chipotle, we went to Paragon so you could get new running shoes for your race.
Later that night, you asked me if I wanted to have a Sex In The City Marathon because you have 1 & 2. I didn't really repsond to the question... Hoping maybe you would forget.
So... what else is going on, well...
You say now when you lay down now it feels like you have a big water bubble on your belly, and it kind of hurts.
Ivan is still very much obsessed with playing frisbee, especially in the house. We genrally are not into this, especially after we (mainly you) cleaned the whole house the other day. I may or may not have used hand soap when I mopped the floors.
Ivan doesn't lick the floor anymore
We have a sheet of muslin for a drape over our living room windows
I ask you what day it is a lot, because I am freelancing and the days blend in to each other and I seem to work through the weekends so the days are all the same. But by the same, I mean, they are like a non stop hang out party evuureeeday.
Did you know his last name was really Warhola? And someone left off the A, the first time he was published.
If you like Rick Burns, then you will easily make it through all four hours. Enjoy!
This was after our delicious steak dinner you made. Ivan even got a few meaty bites too.
Here is a note for baby-
Right now you are about the size of an avocado four and a half inches long and 3 1/2 ounces. Your legs are much more developed your head is more erect than it has been.
Your heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day.
I just finished this PBS movie about the legendary photographer Ansel Adams. It's worth a watch.
His photo Moonrise, Hernandez, NM was so epic, (I think) because it almost didn't happen. He was driving his car and he stopped and quickly setup the shot, and snapped it just as the sun set. There is more to the story about how he calculated the exposure, figuring out the measurements on the fly quickly in his head. He was at that point a well oiled machine, and knew exactly how to produce the results he wanted. I like his idea of "picturing" an image in his mind, before he takes it, improving the outcome of the image.
I also liked the idea that "chance favors a prepared mind", which speaks to volumes to me. The variables in life are unmeasurable, but when try, and we are prepared, we can have control over the outcome.
And here is the photo that started all of this insanely thought-provoking Ansel Adams madness.
I took a run around the neighborhood and went down towards the East River Park, where a new soccer field has opened up. This photo may have a little more meaning to me than meets the eye, I will break it down the easiest way I can.
I love New York, to me it is a place where dreams are made
If I was still working for my previous employer I would be working from the Empire State Building (the ominous sky, contrast, and drama help tell that story in a way that I am ok with)
I am glad to be where I stand, and at the moment it's much better from this side
I also have to cite this quote alluding the creative madness one has to poses to achieve such great accomplishments.
I think Alfred Stieglitz's epitaph -- he told me what he wanted, and that would be ideal -- It says: "Here lies Alfred Stieglitz. He lived for better or for worse, but he's dead for good." -Ansel Adams
Not only was he a great photographer, he was a an educator, a conservationist, and a spokesman. I think through being so great at the one thing he was passionate about, he was able to do so many things, including inspiring others to find the beauty that he saw in the world around him.
