Cincinnati on a Saturday

 

 There is a grocery store in Cincinnati that defies all expectations for what a grocery store should be.  You can find isles dedicated to cheeses from around the world; a room full of only Swedish foodstuffs; tiny bottles of balsamic vinaigrette priced at $175 in locked dusty cabinets; rows and rows of every flavor of marmalade you could think of sold under a British flag;  ostrich, camel, and caribou meet at the butchers.  I was overwhelmed and ecstatic.

harriet the spider

here is a poem by Margie and me about this photograph:

Harriet the spider sometimes gets sad.
Placed next to the flowers,
she fades out of focus.

She goes a long time
without other spiders.
All she can see are the flowers all around her.
There are so many and they are all so beautiful.

She wonders if anyone will ever
think she is so beautiful;
Shining bright in the sun and
smelling sweetly in the breeze.

Standing on the edge of a pedal
Harriet thinks about her self.
"If I were a flower, then I would be happy."
...she tells herself.

But harriet doesn't know that she is lovely.
There are other spiders in the world that are lonely like her.
If only they could all be friends.

Today, she decides that she isn't lonely after all.
The flowers can be her friend.
Together they can make an even more beautiful picture.

sufjan follow your heart

Oh Sufjan Stevens...how you entertain and enlighten us.  Not to mention, you have some dashing good-looks.  Jared, Margie, Matt and I drove up to Indianapolis last week to catch a glimpse of the boy-wonder and to experience first hand his artistry.  Our anticipation mounted ever higher as the day approached.  We were not disappointed.  Mr. Stevens put on a wonderful show.  It was full of space outfits, creatures, and celestial cities.  The decor and feeling of the show mirrored the artwork and tone of his newest album, Age of Adz.  Upon entering Indianapolis, we stopped for dinner (and celebration of Margie's 19th Birthday) at a funky little Thai restaurant, Siam Square.  Behind our seats, rested beautifully colored vases that reminded me of space helmets...which proved very inline with the night's theme.

can you count the birdhouses?

Being in California is always a beautiful experience for me.  The land changes so drastically and magnificently, the air feels fresh, and colors seem more bright.  But most of all, my family, the McStockers, make it beautiful.  Their personalities are as unique as the land and their home is as fresh and inviting as the climate.  Their Sacramento home is decorated beautifully - eclectic yet modern - it was like an oasis for me.  The postage stamp size backyard found room for the birds to find an oasis too.

Rosine Barn Jamboree

I have a list of my favorite "Kentucky" things.  What tops my list?  Rosine, Ky.  This little town in Ohio Co holds quite a Big presence in the Bluegrass world.  As Bill Monroe's birthplace, Rosine looks back to the "good ole days" of community get -togethers, classic music, and the All-American Two-Step.  Every time we visit Rosine, it is obvious that we are outsiders, but the community always welcomes us in.  They will come up to us, ask us where we are from, what bluegrass music are we familiar with, and will even let us borrow instruments for the jam sessions outside the general store.  Kentucky, I love you.

memories of nyc

I have a few important memories of New York City: the solitary feeling of walking around a chilly Manhattan at night, the overwhelming sounds and colors of the subway system that for some reason feel very relaxing and normal, the feeling of history surrounding the boardwalk at Coney Island (how such a desolate space can all at once feel absolutely full).

Anticipation.

california coast

This is one of my favorite photographs I have ever taken.  It was taken on my film Nikon N65 in 2004 - this is a scan of the original print I made in the darkroom of the WKU photolab.  I was able to catch Andy looking out onto the bay from the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, California.  In my opinion, it pretty accurately captures Andy's character.

Whenever I get depressed, confused, or just lost, this is where I want to go.  Maybe not specifically this pier, but to this idea.  A spot that makes me far, far away.  I always feel like driving and driving until I can't drive anymore and I am stopped by some vast body of water.  I think that maybe this will provide the answers, this will make everything okay.  But I know from experience, that it doesn't.  Yet still, I want to run.