Holiday Pics

Elissa & Christy

Lauren

Joel

Abigail

Andrew

If you click on each picture, you'll get a full PRINT SIZE photo (you don't have to, I'm just sayin'...)

Snow Day

Snow Day ... this is NOT Southern California.

Growing up in Southern California, in grade school we'd had a phenomenon called Heat Days. Conditions in which it was so hot that the school's airconditioning couldn't keep up with the sweltering, and we were all sent home early. Well, something similar happened today, AND I'm on-call tonight, so I have to sit around the apartment waiting for someone to walk in to ER or head to the OR for some kind of crash c-section. While my friends get together for Sushi, and fun, and photography, and potentially new video footage.

While at work

 While at work, the snow continued to come down. They had to dig some of the 2 wheel drive cars out of the parking lot. But fortunately for my, my Jeep is tried and true, and at no other time (other than the trip to Sacramento from Mammoth through Tahoe without snow-tires, chains or a snow-plow), have I been more happy for this vehicle.

The View from my Apartment parking spot.

It's not even that cold outside, just windy and snowing A LOT! But the snow is nice and relatively dry, not as squeaky as Colorado, but still pretty dry. But relatively safe here, and warm, with books. Interestingly enough, I left my camera at the Lombards (so that their cousins could mess around with it), and I had to shoot these with my sidekick: the S90.

Conviction

Conviction, it seems, doesn't come from someone else telling us what we're doing wrong per se, but more strongly from someone we admire telling us what they want to change in their own life.

It snowed today

Wise or Otherwise at the Gerrans

David is home for Christmas Break, and Lauren hasn't left yet. We're seeing if it's worth it to make a career to change to fortune cookie or motivational calendar writers.

Getting more efficient at this editing business.

In case you were wondering

Back in the days, when the earth was drying after the global flood, we used to write prescriptions by hand. And if you've ever happened upon a handwritten one (maybe at the Smithsonian or at a local garage sale), you might be wondering what all the mumbo-jumbo was about. If that was the case, here's a little primer on what criptic words we use. It's helpful because since Latin is a dead language, there really isn't any variation in it. There is very little risk that you'll hear its way seeping through the vernacular in a local Hip Hop song. That also means that if I write a scrip (preSCRIPtion) for you, and let's say you want to fill it in ... I don't know ... Argentina, you should be able to without too much ado. And without further of that (the ado), here's a small primer on Medical Prescription lingo:

Prescription Abbreviations: Common Latin Rx Terms
ac (ante cibum) means "before meals"
bid (bis in die) means "twice a day"
gt (gutta) means "drop"
hs (hora somni) means "at bedtime"
od (oculus dexter) means "right eye"
os (oculus sinister) means "left eye"
po (per os) means "by mouth"
pc (post cibum) means "after meals"
prn (pro re nata) means "as needed"
q 3 h (quaque 3 hora) means "every 3 hours"
qd (quaque die) means "every day"
qid (quater in die) means "4 times a day"
Sig (signa) means "write"
tid (ter in die) means "3 times a day"

Now you can take your secret decoder table and find out what we're really saying!

Hot Night in Maine

Almost T-shirt weather!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Plug for Game Night

First attempt at video edit and upload. Thanks to the Lombards, Newharts, Josh, Jonathan, and Steven for being such good sports.

First Snow in Augusta, Maine

Pretty self explanatory. Where are those snow tires ....
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Great Race, Episode One - Two Hours in Boston

Picking up Matthew from Boston Logan International Airport gave us the opportunity with only a few hours of daylight to explore a city I had always been curious about since I was a kid. Not only does does Boston house the recognized institutes of higher learning such as Harvard and MIT, it also happens to be the place where is recorded the events and the mind set that was fundamental to America, one of self-reliance that seems to mark the people of the region. Mind you we only had two hours or so, but we made the most of it. We didn't have time to be polite, so we searched for a map (we didn't realized these were kind of hard to find) and proceeded to be real tourists (camera in tow), looking down at a map to give us directions and with the audacity of people desperate to see something of note, but without the time to be polite. 

Just the same, the local Bostonians seemed friendly, out of character to the reputation that proceeded them. They were helpful and seemed to almost find it novel that a Californian and Mainer would find themselves in downtown Boston during the off-peak tourist season. Who cares, we were there to see the sights, and Matt was there to do reconnaissance for the future dates he was going to take down here. At least that's what I told him he was supposed to be doing.

We just picked a parking spot, ours just happened to be beneath the North Station of the MBTA.
Which is an acronym for Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, affectionately known as the T by locals, who use it for public transport around Boston and suburbs.

After wandering around (without a map at first),  we found a statue of this guy named Paul.
After that, the rest was history, so to speak.

The warning lights from that famous ride shown from the steeple of this church.

Humble church that played a role in housing the lights that warned the militia of the British arrival.

Old North Episcopal Church

This seal marks the bricked roads along the Freedom Trail, a path that runs along downtown Boston, visiting 16 significant historical sights of the area - we only got to a few of them.

Matt and I finally found a place that had maps. No longer aimless we now had a way to get our bearings.

Thought not officially on the Freedom Trail, Matt spent a lot of time around the Quincy Market when coming down with his family, so we came here to find some grub.

With a high probability of vegan dishes, we decided on Wagamama.

Several options chosen, Number 38 in the coconut sauce was unanimously voted as the winner.

New England spelling tutorial. Different words over here, who knew?

Fanueil Hall - where rousing speeches were made to encourage the baby nation to become independent of Great Britain.

Sometimes referred to as "the Cradle of Liberty" - we did not have to time to take the tour of historically significant events of the Hall.

Plaque inside Fanueil Hall

My only experience with Samuel Adams, no ID required.

Matt shows the markings of the Freedom Trail. It's a nice addition, because if you think you're lost, look for this red stripe or the brick line similar to this that marks the complete trail.

People movers are the way to get around. And it's still all about the wheels. The guy with the meaty ones gets the girl's number. Sorry rice-rockets, she's looking for the guy with the Big Wheels.

Interview in traditional garb of the day. Must've been a pain to clean.

In a short time, it was still lots of fun. Next time, we're driving to Portland taking the train in, then hitting the T. But now we know a little of our way around, where to eat and what to see. Future plans include the aquarium, Bunker Hill,  MIT, Harvard Square. And a host of others. I'll keep you posted. Don't forget to hit the title for the jump to Wiki.

Everyday Religion

Often, after some time in the Christian walk, we forget how we came into it. How Christ lead and continues to lead in our lives. I was just discussing this topic with a friend of mine who was formerly in a Bible study group I used to give back in California. The subject of complete surrender came up and we saw how many times we as Christians refuse to give everything to God, yet still continue to claim to walk with Him.

Look at the silliness of this idea. I have replaced the original words with words more like many of the Christian walks today:

1. Some to Jesus I surrender;
   Some to Him I freely give;
   I will ever love and trust Him,
   In His presence daily live.
   • Refrain:
     I surrender Some,
     I surrender Some;
     Some to Thee, my blessed Savior,
     I surrender Some.
2. Some to Jesus I surrender;
   Humbly at His feet I bow,
   Worldly pleasures partly forsaken;
   Take me, Jesus, take me now.
3. Some to Jesus I surrender;
   Make me, Savior, partly Thine;
   Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
   Truly know that Thou art mine.
4. Some to Jesus I surrender;
   Lord, I give myself to Thee;
   Fill me with Thy love and power;
   Let Thy blessing fall on me.
5. Some to Jesus I surrender;
   Now I feel the sacred flame.
   Oh, the joy of part salvation!
   Glory, glory, to His Name!

That last stanza really hit me that a part surrender constitutes an incomplete salvation realized. Also in verse three. We really don't appreciate the ramifications of an incomplete surrender. We really tie God's hands when we don't give Him all.

Ristorante Lombardi - New Menu Item

Newly added: Tomato Bisque

After being sick all week, I treated myself to some really good food in Freeport. To my pleasant surprise, in addition to the Signature Soup,  they have added a new Tomato Bisque to the menu.  A little more subtle taste and less artificial than other soups of similar nature, by comparison.  Quite delicious, it is creamy, and fresh and a perfect evening soup (or rainy day soup, or light soup). Served with the special bread (I had the Avocado and Tomato Sandwich - on Wheat), it made a satisfying dinner.

Behind the dining and serving area, there is a place for board games or just general ruckus, you can look through what they have available, or bring your own, or they have some downstairs in the lower room. Did I mention they also have internet access, but you have to get the password from one of the owners. Tonight there was a game going on that had the main Chef and the rest of the crew laughing, along with the guests, with such intensity that I could stop, I started to cry, and my chest started to heart, but that wouldn't get me to stop.  It continued for a few hours. 

At the end of the evening, I was short on the bill so I volunteered to help with the dishes. It's not tucked away like some other places so it wasn't a completely unpleasant task. One can do dishes but be adequately engaged in the conversation around the cooking area. Before that the last call was made, and the night staff was preparing pastries for the following business day. I left shortly after.

Summary: If you're sick, go get soup at the Ristorante Lombardi.

Semi-Annual Recital

Renon on Violin

About twice a year, if you're lucky enough, you get to hear a recital of some of the young performers in Topsham. Usually some fun songs just to enjoy some music and some food afterwards. This particular even, included with the fine classical violins and piano, we had an exceptional treat. The kids gave a recital of prose, highlighting the every day life of a medieval village. Dressed up in mock peasant garb, they spoke of glass blowing and marriages planned for the financial benefit of the parties involved, their resignation and defiance of the arranged marriage, and plans of advancement from squire to knight. The music was fun and wonderful. Adri's song was wonderfully cheeky, and Mary hit the piercing high note with her beautiful rendition of The Prayer (while Jonathan busted out the Italian! - What else do those Gerrans boys do?) But the recitation was fun, and light, and put on with sincere child-like lack of reservation, it was refreshing. The food was tasty and company could only be minimally improved on.



Sienna



Perla

Summer

Luca

Perla and Yesenia

Rose and Liz

As for the pics, you get to see my recent trial on Photoshop. If you can't tell it's been shopped, then great. If you can, send me a message.

Inspiration - The breath of life

As I came upon this blog entry by Barry Howe, Inspiration, several days ago when it was first posted, the first thought that entered my head was the kind of inspiration that motivates art or conquests or achievements. I had to chuckle when I read Christy's comment below it. That's the kind of inspiration I was thinking of.

Inspiration is what has launched ships, written plays, invented light bulbs, won medals, conquered kingdoms. And wrote the Bible:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: - 1 Timothy 3:16

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. - Job 32:8

It is not an accidental metaphor. To think the physiologic activity of breathing is analogous to the movement of the Holy Spirit on a person's heart is not so far fetched, and further analogies ensue that can be applied to the spiritual life:

1) It is the collection of substances in high enough quantities to be harmful (i.e. acid) that initiates the drive to inspire.

2) Inspiration is never forced in. A contraction of the diaphragm creates a vacuum, a void of substance, if you will, that is filled then with life-giving air. Only on a ventilator, an unnatural situation and an emergency, is 'inspiration' forced. And even then, it is not really inspiration, but mere ventilation.

3) Despite the action of breathing, inspiration can be inhibited. Anything that does not belong, whether man-made or biological, natural or artificial, that causes obstruction can prevent the benefit of inspiration from occurring.

4) Inspiration is not optional for life; without inspiration we would die.

Without inspiration there would be no art or beauty or cleverness or wit or poetry or stories. Without inspiration we would not only stop breathing, we would cease to live.

Have you every tried to write a poem, a story, paint a picture, photograph beauty, or create anything without inspiration?

1) It is often the pain in one's life, whether internal or external, its relief or its presence that brings inspiration or prompts a seeking after God.

2) God and His inspiration is never forced. Without a need created, its reception is not desired.

3) Things we do or positions we place ourselves in, even if not intrinsically evil or harmful, can be an obstruction to inspiration as well as to God's Holy Spirit. We really have a difficult time believing that what we eat, what we watch, listen to, do, or even think about have a bearing on our reception of life itself.

4) One day, we will each get what we want, whether the continued abiding or the continued absence of the presence of God who inspires...

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; - Acts 17:28

Foot work

So the intellectual curiosity overcame me. Partly because business has kept me of the road work / treadmill and it was time to get back. Partly because I read Barry's blog entry on barefoot running. Partly when I first ran track back when I was a teenager, there was an article about one of the premier barefoot runner, a woman marathoner from South Africa (Zola Budd), and in high school I had tried it (very) briefly. It wasn't an absolutely new idea to me, but just the same I had no impetus to give a go until recently.

Today, I gave it that go. 3 miles at an easy pace (at the beginning of training it's my practice to do heart-rate training first, then speed work later, but that's just me, what do I know? I don't have a trainer anymore). I noticed a few things.

1) while I had paid attention to my stride previously, it was almost like a heightened awareness of my stride when going barefoot.
2) my cadence seemed to be faster. I attributed this to my stride being shortened so as not to reach with my foot, and land on my heel. This is one of the points that pro-barefoot runners make, it's better on the ankle and knee joints.
3) there is less temptation to land on your heel. It seemed more 'natural' to land on the balls of my feet when running barefoot, than even when I made a deliberate effort to run on the balls of my feet when I had my running shoes on.
4) for some reason, my knee didn't give me a problem. Since I was 19, it also took some warm up to loosen up my left knee. That didn't seem to even be an issue when running barefoot.
5) my biggest concern prior to running was my ankles. This proved to be poorly founded. No concern whatsoever. The ankles seemed stable and painless.
6) the biggest concern is something at end of my list: callouses (or lack thereof) on the bottom of my right foot. For some reason my left foot had no problem with this, but I could tell my right foot was tender. I imagine this will alleviate with time.
7) something that surprised me is that I had a more difficult time 'pulling' with my leg (i.e. making a deliberate effort to flex my hamstring in order to propel me forward, this in direct contrast to reaching or extending with the quads.) I'm not sure what to think of this, but pulling actually facilitates better form for me. We'll have to see with time.
8) I want to do it again! It felt more natural and free. With grown callouses, it will be even better.

I'll give it 3 days per week at about 3 miles for the first 2 weeks (remember, heart-rate training), then advance to 6 miles. When I introduce intervals, that may be a different story, but we'll see. That only means that you pick up the pace every 2 minutes, no big deal.

Let's see how things go in 2 weeks. (Don't forget to hit the jump on the title.)

Ristorante Lombardi

Signature Soups at the Ristorante Lombardi

If circumstances find you in the town of Freeport, Maine, there are a few things that you must not leave without seeing or experiencing. Without a doubt, the Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park,  Winslow Park, Casco Bay, and the Desert Dunes of Maine. You will miss something special if you don't go shopping at the flagship store of L.L.Bean at 2am since it's open 24 hrs.

But if you never do anything else, you have to stop by a small mom and pop's restaurant tucked  behind (west of) the I-295 a couple of miles in a comfortable and homey restaurant that serves the finest food this side of home. Prepared with the kindness and sincerity that only comes with a home-cooked meal, the head chef is wonderful and creative, and her assistant chefs and all the staff are so much fun and laugh so easily, conversation flows with such loose frivolity and enjoyment that it almost feels like being in a home with some of your good friends. Everyone visiting Freeport needs to visit this food joint.

The soup that has recently been added to the menu is fast becoming signature is pictured above and the name is currently under review by the current staff. What may give the appearance of an every day chowder, is the most addicting non-narcotic substance approved by the FDA for daily  consumption for symptoms of hyperphagia.

Do not leave Freeport, Maine, without having a sample of this marvelous soup with all the charm of eating on the deck beside the main dining room. The only down side to having some of this soup is that you'll want 2-3 servings at a time, and then you'll go back for more. And wish it was always in your own refrigerator just to have whenever you please. And you'll wonder if Ristorante Lombardi sells them commercially, and find yourself disappointed that they don't. (This is my last serving, so don't come steal mine, I have to make my own trip back out there ... and it won't be soon enough.)

Be sure to tip the servers :-) ... big.

10 Places

One of the funniest things to me are warning signs. By virtue of their existence, they speak of the condition of the modern thinking American, for in America, the Land of Litigation, where else can you find warnings to not eat this, don't park here, do not enter or do not cross. But this alone is not the humor thing. The humorous thing is that someone, some day long ago, before the warning sign was put up, someone tried to do just what the sign said not to do. They dove in head first, they swallowed the pill, they parked there, and they ate that. They took the medication while intoxicated and inserted the toy where it wasn't meant to.

While some of these signs / warning do provide protection of the producers of the product or owners of the product in question, other signs do not. They simply are trying to protect people from their own lack of common sense. The following article is a case in point and begins with an anecdote of a juror passing a note to a court marshall asking for a date:

10  of the most inappropriate places to flirt

1 - Hospital waiting room
2 - The gym
3 - A funeral
4 - A job interview
5 - The underwear section of a department store
6 - In line for the bathroom
7 - Your therapy appointment
8 - A parent-teacher conference
9 - On a date with someone else
10 - At work

While we may smile at CNN's choice of reportable news. We have to wonder what prompted such a list. Some where. In this country we call home. Someone had the lack of common sense to do this kind of deed, which resulted in a significantly bad outcome. Some actually did what we find so humorous.

And we missed out because they didn't get it on YouTube!

What is important?

A reevaluation of the importance of certain matters comes about in times of tragedy, pain, suffering. It is in those times of trouble that values are reexamined to seek the answer to this most fundamental question.

This question marks the bottom line of every action and thought. It displays the value that is necessary in every endeavor, or action set in motion. Each thought of consequence or purpose. In class of education, this question marks the focus of study. For each class tests to answer this very conjecture.

This question, asked at the end of life, then takes close scrutiny to every choice that came before and places each in appropriately glaring light. For truth will give its answer, and each decision must be weighed against the answer to this question. Is it time at the office, is it amount of money made and lost, is it fortunes built and legacy made? What is important, for the answer to this question drives the motive. By the answer to this question we choose our vocation, companion, even amusement and recreation. If we believe adventure and exploration is important then our activities follow suite.

At the end of school, if grades were more important than learning, or achievement better than mastery, then it shows itself in the kind of scholar or artisan produced, whether one who merely has performed the task required to receive a certificate, or whether mastery of information has been acquired.

This question drives our happiness, and we find ourselves deceived if at the outcome of all events, this question, put forth at the beginning, the middle and the end, is answered with the glib but hurried response, token to the impetuous disinterest in its underlying meaning. Meaning with such depth that to deny its acknowledgment would render us chasing with savage intensity those things that will not produce what we desire. Satisfaction and contentment.  Peace that is presumptively described as Divine. That may not be so.

So this question must be answered at every stage, and reopened again. Not so much that indecision creeps in but enough that we remember what drives us forward, ignites our hearts, and fuels our passions. Because in the existence that allows self-awareness enough to the education of the conscience, To Be Or Not to Be, once answered, that which provides meaning to the Being is the question that then begs attention: In order to Be, what is important?

What gives existence life?

Sabbath at Portland Light Head

Fort Williams, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

 After Sabbath afternoon presentation on Evolution / Intelligent Design, I took a few of the youth out to Cape Elizabeth to walk around Fort Williams Park and get these guys to not sleep. 

Reflection

The tide was lower so we saw the residual water collected at the base, and you can see the Lighthouse reflection in it. The water's reflection acts as a natural polarizing filter, which results in the richer colors in the pool's reflected image. I was still in church clothes so I couldn't crawl down there. It was a breezy 52°F but cloudless afternoon. It was going to get colder as the sun was setting.

Portland Head Light

As the sun set, the rays with longer wavelengths (reds, oranges and yellows) have less scatter (this is known as refraction) than shorter wavelength light (blues, purples), as the atmosphere acts as a prism, leaving the light a warm orange-yellow glow at sunset, which caught the top end of the Lighthouse in the above picture.

The Three Youths

The guys with me were bundled up for the (slightly) windy weather which dropped the temperature even more. Early that morning for Sabbath School, we had gone over the book Steps to Christ, chapter by chapter, and applying each step to specific teenage issues. While these teenagers aren't caught up in harmful habits, we still reviewed that we often look for even wholesome things to give satisfaction in our lives, but because of our separation from God because of sin, nothing will be satisfying (that's a review of Sabbath School, come next Sabbath and we'll continue) and then we introduced the Sinner's Need for Christ. We're only on Chapter 2. It hasn't sunken in for these guys yet (but repetition deepens the impression and we will review it again next week) as you could tell from the conversations walking around the grounds. I'll be a little more deliberate next time. And it's a needed review for me, too, since there is never such a thing as "too much" conversion.

Annie C. Maguire

Looking south of the Lighthouse is this sign of the probably one of the best Christmas presents ever, seeing as no one lost their life that night. If you were too lazy rushed to hit the jump, here's a little history of the sign in the photo above:

On Christmas Eve, 1886, the British bark Annie C. Maguire ran ashore on the rocks at Portland Head. The Strouts got a line to the vessel and helped all aboard, including the captain's wife, make it safely to shore.

On New Year's Day 1887, a storm destroyed the ship after everything of value had been removed. You can still see the rock near the lighthouse with the painted inscription: "Annie C. Maguire, shipwrecked here, Christmas Eve 1886."

We got kicked out of the park as it closes at sundown. We closed Sabbath right outside the gate and drove back home for hanging out and talking, a difficult endeavor for teenage boys. But remember, baby steps.

Video Ministry

So for a few days, I shipped down to visit a friend in Florida. He runs an independent ministry called The Gospel of Health and runs a school entitled School of the Prophets, which teaches young people (as young as 12 years old) how to have a personal walk with Christ for themselves, as well as teaches of Prophecy and the message for the end times, going through the Bible and Steps to Christ.

But these next several days is just for Media. We're up to our ears in un-edited video footage, and will bu culling through Lecture videos, as well as PowerPoint / Keynote presentations.

Today we had to do some house-keeping chores (my phone was on the fritz and I left my toothbrush in Virginia, don't ask me how) and scope out locations for publicity shots for future brochures and the website (yes, he's on Facebook; no, I'm not).

But like a canvas dipped in unfading hue, every conversation touches on the work that needs to get done, how improvement can be made, a deeper surrender, repentance, and consecration to the work, and especially the work of Christ in that second apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary.

I only had my Blackberry so this is a shot of St. Pete's Beach. But despite the balmy 84 F weather and minimal humidity, I do miss my friends in Maine, (Also too much asphalt in St. Petersburg), where the air is a bit nippy and fall is etching itself on the trees, ground, and air.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

New England Haiku for Autumn

... trees ablaze ...

_________

mist mornings burn off

trees stay ablaze golden red
welcome to the fall

___________

Decide today, again.

Sabbath Morning

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:7-8

Woke up Sabbath morning.
Chose to be a Christian.
Had devotional.
Read Bible.
Read Steps to Christ.
Took notes.
Took this picture.
Packed for the day.
Got dressed.
Reviewed Chapter 1 for Sabbath School.
Tied Nick's tie.
Was convicted by Divine Service message.
Missed friends who are out of state.
Had lunch.
Went out on Greg's boat.
Listened to Prophets and Kings being read.
Closed Sabbath.
Made applesauce.
Talked photography with Jonathan.
Planned outing.
Missed a meeting.
Drove home.
Blogged this entry.

Tomorrow, I have to make a decision again. To be a Christian. Just like you do.

Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians. 

- Steps to Christ, p. 47

 Click HERE to see photos from Sabbath afternoon boat trip.

Normal

Every photographer must own a Standard lens.

On most Canons and Nikons, this means a 35mm lens. On Full frame cameras like Film Cameras or the 5D Mark II or the 1Ds Mark III or the Nikon D3 or D700 this means a 50mm lens.

Reasons for this?

1) A Standard or Normal lens is equivalent to the way our eye sees things. We don't have any distortion like a wide angle (this can be simulated by coming up to a subject really, really close) or the flattening of a subject like a telephoto lens (this too can be simultated by closing one eye). This is the truest WYSIWYG (pronounced wizzy wig): what you see is what you get.

2) It forces you to expand your creativity. With a Standard Prime (meaning non-zoom) lens, you really have to stop and think about your composition. A good exercise is a 50mm walk-around. Put a Standard lens on your camera and walk around for the day, and use only that lens to shoot for the whold day. Landscapes, portraits, action, etc. all without specialty lenses. It'll make you think on your feet.

3) It's probably the fastes lens in your kit. Unless you're a Professional or have really deep pockets, the 50mm will probably have a low aperture of f1.4 (or f1.8 if you're a starving dental or medical student), which means you can open up the lens to f1.4, let more light in, and then choose a really fast shutter speed. That's what we mean by a fast lens (not how many frames-per-second we can shoot, which is a function of the camera body, not the lens).

4) It's produces reasonably flat images for good environmental portraits, which allows you to get IN (really IN) to the shot without the distortion of a wide angle lens.

5) It's a low profile (compact). It's small enough that it doesn't really draw attention to itself. You can slide it in anywhere.

6) It's light. Have you ever walked around with a 70-200mm f2.8 ? Thick as a brick and heavy too. A standard lens, which for most of you Canon shooters is the 35mm f2.0 is compact, fast, and it looks quite cool.

7) It's relatively inexpensive. For only $350 on Amazon you can have all of the above. And this particular lens has quite good IQ (that's Image Quality, who wouldn't want that!)

Incidentally, I just got mine repaired and it arrived at work today (don't worry I'm really seeing patients and blogging in between) and here it is with one of my colleague's toys, Ernie, looking through the lens. I'm excited to have my normal, compact, light, inexpensive, and very fast lens back!

Sent from my Blackberry.

Seasonal Waymark

Pumpkins and Scarecrows

September 22, 2010. Late that day marked the Autumnal Equinox, one of two times of year in which the axis of the Earth is perfectly perpendicular to the angle of orbit around the sun, resulting in a tilt that is neither towards or away from the sun. The result is that the amount of daylight is equal to amount of darkness for that 24 hr period, a perfect balance if you will of light and dark. In terms of the time of year, it marks the official seasonal change from Summer to Fall. Thematically, the pumpkins come out and plaid-dressed hay haired scare crows with sewn mouths and straw hats come out, to mark the time of harvest. In terms of fashion, fall sweaters and corduroys are brought of the closet to battle the colder weather, along with wool coats. No more jumping into the lake for a quick dip or sitting on a lawn chair with a cold (decaffeinated) iced tea.

Back in the day, it was time to gather in the crops and reap the work that had been going on all summer. Not just because it marked the end of a growing season but in preparation for the coming winter. It was a looking forward, in a way, to a time when commodities and resources would be scarce if duties weren't done now.

The haunts of my younger days wouldn't really know what this is like. Southern California is a place where preparation isn't so marked by necessity. Its even temperature allows a sensation of a single year round season. Even near the desert. There one could delay gathering in crops because Nature was relatively mild all year round, and little consequence was to be born if procrastination was the order of the day. One could always gather things later, or so one thought. Temperature never really cooled the way it does in locations marked by Four Seasons, and passage of time can be easily lost track of.

Here, in New England, it's getting cooler. Wool has come out, skirts have dropped, shorts have been put aside. Apples are going to be soon ready to pick. Applesauce and peanut butter (yum!) will be on the menus with abundance. The rain is a little cooler, and one no longer has to sleep with the windows up.

Winter (and Christmas) is just around the corner.

Winthrop Street

Question of the Day for October 6

Would you be disappointed if you found out your powers of persuasion were due to the fact that you were clever instead of to the fact that you were right?

Page 8

Read this book!

For some time, I had been eying this book since seeing it on John Howe's blog shelf some time ago. Well, I received this book for my (recent) birthday from some friends here in Maine, I finally had time to sit through some of it. I went through all the drills that I have learned about good readers (since I'm kind of mediocre), eyeballed the Table of Contents, reviewed the reviews, and flipped through the pages as I got ready to read. I'm only on page 8 and I had to get up and walk around.

If you know me, I'm not very emotive (sometimes) when I'm concentrating on something, and I've been accused of having a stern poker face, but every once in a while, when I'm studying for a lecture, or a talk, or reading something that has depth to its implications, because of a novel thought, I get up and walk around and think. If I am speaking to someone on the phone, they can probably tell by my voice that I have stood up, and am pacing the floor, enthusiasm unhindered. Almost emotive. This happened a lot when I first read the book Steps to Christ (and incidentally, still continues to happen).

But another thing I find interesting is cognition. Meta-cognition. The way we think. And the way we think about the way we think. "Think" meaning the verb, to process intellectual and emotional information (yes, that includes all you Feelers out there.) But with that in mind, you can imagine how curious I was to finally get my hands on this book and the find the time to sit and digest it. 

So I'm reading this book, and within the fraction of the first story, the implications are tremendous and far reaching. They have an intrinsic application to various aspects of life (in the vernacular, people usually say, "Man, that is deep!" when in fact they mean this phrase.) This is an amazing book, and I RARELY use this word, except when meeting people or things that dumbfound me (in a good or bad way). But in fact, this book is AMAZING.

The pace is easy, but substantial. The information is practical and feelings compelling. The stories are real and some of the names have not been changed. The idea of connecting the mind (the hypothetical construct with which we find ourselves AWARE - i.e. the software) and the brain (the physical construct that allows electrons to move and signals to be carried - i.e. the hardware) is put forward to the reader in such terms that one's interest is generated, not just for the science, but for the stories. The stories of the real people with real problems, and the possible solutions that can be brought home to every day life. Because we all use our minds and brains. Without which the heart can pump, but not feel. The body can exist but not live.

And it makes you wonder that kind of wonder that is sparked with the words, "What if ..." where possibilities are endless and horizons are open. Like getting a car (and driver's license) for the first time, or lots of money at a candy store (ok, a fruit stand) and it feels like anything can happen. This is called hope.

And it gets you up off the bed (where you're reading) and makes you pace and think, maybe aloud. And realize with a quirky smile, you're only on page 8.

Seven Pounds and The Recession

If you hit the link to this Blogpost's Title, you'll brought to a comprehensive list that shows which state's will start to reduce their collective contribution to the Nationial Donor Registry. As well as considerable reduction in commercial activity. The world will start to rotate a little bit more slowly, and we'll shuttled back to the ages of ink and paper, constantly worrying whether our spouses or kids will arrive at home on time.

This is because the activity of texting, checking emails, and divising the take over the free world, while driving has been banned from certain states. On my way to and from Boston several nights ago, signs reminded drivers that beginning October 1, 2010, it was now illegal to text while driving. I suppose there would be a possibility of text-o-meter, to check toxic levels to texting. Thumb temperatures and circulation to distal digits can be monitored, as well as text logs on cell phones could be required to be given over for law-enforcement officials to review.

Imagine what it would be like if we weren't able to conduct business on our cell phones with the kind of relentless ambition that drives the Capitalism Paragon of the World. Commerce would come to a virtual halt (pun intended), and we'd be back to the recession of which we've slowly been working toward coming out.

The down side of all this is that I'm card-carrying organ donor. I believe in it adamantly. Life could be easily improved by the simple selfless act of letting people farm our unused non-cataract lenses, non-cirrhotic levers, uninfected bone marrows. I've been accused to having a body with a cellular age of a guy 15 years my junior (is that possible?) and believe that if I died (presumably while texting and driving) I could further the enjoyment of some other people on this earth, just by having that little pink dot on my driver's license. Because of this new law, this ability to extend the life of others will be greatly reduced. And to what extent? Only time will tell.

Besides, I can think of few better ways to give your heart away ;-)

Circulation

The highly vascularized circulation in the mouth is what makes a cut on the tongue or oral mucosa bleed profusely. Interestingly enough, it's that same highly vascularized circulation that helps the mouth heal quite well if it is cut or if the mucosa is damaged.

I just thought it was curious that the same thing that makes it bleed, is the same thing that makes it heal.

More than one thing works this way in the human experience.

Portland Head Light

Portland Head Light

If you ever make it to Maine, take the time to visit one of the most photographed Lighthouses is the Portland Head Light, tucked away by the edge of Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, just outside of South Portland. Lit in 1791 and automated in 1989, I'll let you read the sordid details if you hit the jump on the Blog Title.

There is a nearby Lighthouse Museum and you can walk around the park, and there aren't many ways to better spend a New England afternoon.

I had to rush down after work, and they'll kick you out of the park at sunset, so this was taken just as they lit the Lighthouse. For those of you looking for technical information, it has been recommended by one of my respected readers to make a separate blog just for stuff like that: HERE. I ran out of time, so this was about it for the keepers. When I go back there will be more.

It is not the exotic locale or beauty like this that make the most compelling argument to join a place, but it is the people with which hopes are shared and pain is diffused that makes a place missed when one goes away. After my jaunt, I stopped by the house of a family that has taught me just that. We simply visited in their living room, and if they were ever to be located in the likes of barren Southwest, they would make an oasis of it. I am learning, even at my age, of friendship, and expectations, my own selfishness, living and hoping, what it means to really take something personally, and put one's care into something, because even if it hurts, there is no other way to live or be. Because only in death is there apathy. In life there is hope and disappointment, fear and courage, pain and healing, colors and words. The experiences of life that prompts its own perpetuation and reaching for of Something higher.

Nothing profound today. Just enjoying the sunset and the friendships. Elissa, your people miss you here. We know you're doing what you have to do, but you won't be home soon enough.