More blocks

looks like I've got a full-blown hobby.

a third painting:

A second painting

entitled 'Steven Jackson Ruined My Fantasy Season'


This was too much fun...reminded me of being kid again. I think I would have liked it better without the orange and blue. Maybe I'll do another like it one day.

*update*

round 2

101 in 1001 | an update

After much procrastination I get to check another item off my list, thanks to some incredible inspiration of late:

#2 - paint a picture.


'A Sonnet's Silhouette'


It's hard to believe I actually got around to completing my first painting! All it took was a canvas, a few brushes, and some acrylic paints. I had so much fun doing this one I think I'll try at least a few more soon. Maybe I'll post them if they're not too embarrassing.

The little things...

About six months ago I went about creating my '101 in 1001' list. Simply, it's a list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish, be them big or small, in the the subsequent 1001 days. I ran across the concept a while back and thought it was a great idea. So far I've been able to cross off quite a few, such as:

#45 - sell my old car
#49 - write a letter to a friend
#67 - visit my big sister
#86 - watch the Indiana Jones movies (can you believe I'd never seen them???)

But, believe it or not, #1 on my list is to start a potted herb garden.

I love to cook. And any good cook will tell you that fresh herbs are better than dried. However, in the absurdity department, the supermarket prices of fresh herbs are rivaled only by that of petroleum and those silly coffee beans eaten and pooped by lemurs. So, somehow, it was the first thing that came to mind when creating my list. Now I can cross it off:



Rosemary - I went for a cool, creeping variety. I can taste the lamb chops already:


Basil - tomato/basil pizza sounds like a winner:


Mint - Can anyone say Mojito?


I look forward to adding a few more herbs soon like dill, cilantro, thyme, and chives. And I'm sure I'll get a kick out of using them. Without my '101 in 1001' I wonder if I'd ever have gotten around to it. Who knows?

a quick trip home

It was so nice to spend sometime with my family over the weekend. My sister, brother-in-law, and niece came in from Florida. I was so glad to have seen everyone! We even got in a quick 10 minute family photo session...starring Jasmine, in all of her 18-month-old glory.

she's all grown up now. As sweet as they come...a little diva, too. Just like her mother.


Macy, David, and Jasmine:



they both pout pretty well:


I'm fairly sure she's daddy's girl:







of course by the time my turn came around she was pretty much fed up with the whole situation:


"Uncle 'Mayne, did I ever tell you how goofy you are?":


"ok... I'm done."

obligatory hump day post II

1. Congrats to Ben and Kris on their baby boy!


2. My niece, Jasmine, is growing like crazy...what a big girl! Already in the pocket book, I see:



3. I've had an epiphany...a multifaceted one:

• Watching the Hornets win this series will please me greatly.

• There is only one thing that would please me more.

• That thing will be to watch the Spurs lose this series.
  

01.01.08

The best part of the holidays for me is getting to spend time with the family - something I don't get to do often enough.

My niece, Jasmine, is growing so fast. Crazy what 14 months will do. Her little personality is just busting out (mostly in the form of gurgles):

she loves granny:


R.J., my nephew, is one of the most hilarious 8-year-olds you'll run across. Every time I see him I'm reminded of how much fun it was to be a kid...especially on Christmas day:

Happy New Year! (and my late Christmas)

Happy New Year to any and all LP blog-stalkers out there. I'm sure an eventful, and fruitful 2008 is in store for us all!

What better way to celebrate than with new tools toys?!?

1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom - I'm in love with this software. In fact, I'm positive it's the best investment I've made in my business so far (besides my beloved 80-200mm 2.8). This was designed with the high-volume photographer in mind and it shows. I'm really excited about having it. Kinda kicking myself for waiting as long as I did!

2. Western Digital 500GB External HD - more storage is always a good thing.

3. Western Digital 250GB Passport Portable HD - this thing is so, so sleek and slim. And thanks to the wackiness of retail I got it at an insanely good price. Couldn't resist.


4. Off-site storage/hosting with Zenfolio. Cheap service. Clean design. UNLIMITED space. I've become fairly picky about redundant backups...this should give me another level of security.

Turkey Day 'Top 5'

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

This has to be one of my favorite holidays on the calendar...a short list of why:

5. It's one of the few days of the year I consume cranberry products that aren't in the form of juice.

4. Spending time with the fam (I vow to myself this will be the last Thanksgiving I spend away from my family)

3. Cowboys/Lions - an NFL tradition

2. The 'A Christmas Story' marathon - do they still do that?

1. My mother's incredible dressing...and everything else.

honorable mention: tryptophan

Enjoy the holiday!

Houston - the city that doesn't know it never sleeps.

I'm back from a very enjoyable weekend I spent hanging out with my good friend Emily down in Houston. To say I had a great time would be a huge understatement.

highlights:

• capoeira, baby
• dancing with my long lost salsa buddies, Tracie, Kristle, and Emily
• Dynamo vs. FC Dallas (kickin' it with the Texian Army is no joke)
  
• new friends
• old friends

a few shots from around the city -

Sam Houston directing pigeons:




I love the vibe I get from Spanish moss:




Emily's penchant for all things Brasileiro led us to a capoeira batizado on Saturday night. I'd been familiar with the concept of capoeira for a while but seeing it live for the first time was incredible for me. The history and tradition involved is what I find to be most valuable...it's definitely worth checking out.

berimbau, atabaque, pandeiro:


capoeiristas from Capoeira Luanda:





the little guys jumped in the roda, too:



these people are amazing at what they do:


I gotta get to Brazil.

It's been a great week!

1. Happy birthday to me (Oct. 10)
2. Some of my images are being published! (stay tuned)
   
3. How 'bout them Cowboys! (Nick Folk's a 'G')
   

I'm old school...

...and that's how I like my salsa. If you know me you know I'm a huge salsa fan. When I saw this video I couldn't help it. I had to post it. Just because.

I acquired a taste for the old stuff when I was learning dance. Listening to DJ No2Self's badass vinyl salsa collection nearly every week for two years definitely got me hooked.

The first half of this video features Ismael Rivera's greatness. Definitely old school.

Jasmine

I'm back from my weekend trip to the Brazos Valley even more tired than before I left. But the trade-off is that I got to spend tons of time with my 8-month-old niece, Jasmine, who was in town from Florida visiting the grandparents. I hadn't seen her since January. She's grown so much and has the cutest little grin I've ever seen:















Uncle 'Mayne is so much fun, if you didn't already know:





she'll be deadly soon:



I took most of these in extremely low available light with my 50mm 1.8, which is one of my favorites. It's light, cheap, and stupid sharp. But the extra speed of the 50mm 1.4 has me intrigued. When I was a beginner (way back!) I'd sometimes be perplexed at why pros would pay 2, 3, or 4 times more for an extra stop of light. But the more I do what I do, the more I'm exposed extreme lighting situations. A single stop could mean the difference between a shot in the can or a blurry mess. And nice bokeh can't be beat.