Photo Friday - 'Anger'

See more 'angry' pictures HERE

SPC - 'with someone' #4

Well, I've covered my closest family:
Week 1: Christy, My Wife

Week 2: Hannah, My Daughter

and

Week 3: The rest of my immediate family

So, this final week of Self Portrait Challenge's theme, 'with someone,' I thought I'd post a picture with friends, instead:

We had spent the majority of this particular night mourning the untimely loss of a good friend. We decided to go out afterwards for a bite to eat and to decompress. More on the details of that evening HERE.

When I set the timer on the camera to get this shot, all three of the other guys were on their cell phones. Now, to be fair, they were all checking in with their wives and families, but seeing as I don't even carry a mobile phone, I thought it might make a funny picture.

Photo Friday - 'Girl'

The theme at Photo Friday this week is 'Girl'

Seems like a have a few pictures that might fit this theme...

Arrr!

Ahoy! Happy 'Talk Like A Pirate Day'!!!

How this crazy holiday evaded me all these years, I'll never know. It its honor, I will attempt to type like a pirate for the rest of this post:

mxdfmxfdmx fdmjn xdf,mxdf ,.zsdm,xdf jhmnxdf m nx m nx mxdf jhmzajmajkuseksuksujw43u43uj k,xserij u, jesr, u se uj,sexrujzezwauzuj,uj, sez uj,ujhujazwu,awzeiuoet!#RWEAFfdajkl;jk;lqtuiop5413uioprtgangadkjl;nmvdznfeaerhj5132853 _
nmvdajkl][teqwuipoteqw980ateklj;vakljqerwquiopgdajkbvcn fdajkl;

ajkkl;jklefqwjiop1342fu890fasjkl;dvj[a[rea/df;lkjeqwioteqru=eq-0wfgwejkl;fdsajk
uipotqegdnklvdakvczxm,.kjl;fDAJKL;TEgbakjl;_
kjlqefkjl1613464qtajkldagjklgfbjkdUiotqedjaIOjkdajkl
ajkfeqjklqefiougadsuioqejklgdjkl;gda[p[]pjkladfkjl k3tre

__________________________


Just kidding.

Anyway, feel free to spout off some piratey talk for the rest of the day (what little's left, that is). I mean, on what other day can you mention 'bunghole' at home and get away with it?
(DISCLAIMER: if you actually say 'bunghole' at home and get clobbered, despite it being 'talk like a pirate day,' don't come crying to me, ya land lubber!)

Yaaaaars Truly,

Black Harry Rackham

Like anyone confronted with the harshness of robbery on the high seas, you can be pessimistic at times. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
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Films Recently Watched:

The Dirty Dozen (1967) helmed by Robert Aldrich
This be what I call me twelve best mateys -- Blimey! I never knew they made a movie 'bout 'em!

Mogambo (1953) helmed by John Ford
Lots o' great scenery and safari footage 'ere. In this movie, Clark Gable, woos two different beauties while on safari, one o'em, played by Grace Kelly, be already married!
--from IMDb trivia: some censors in Europe refused t'allow an adulterous relationship to be portrayed on film, so they altered the script so that the married couple would, instead, be brother and sister, but they didn't remove a scene where they share a bed together. Adultery=bad -- Incest=OK? That sounds like it could be from the pirate code.
[/pirate language]
Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002) dir. by Jim Hanon
A documentary about the tragic, true story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian; Christian missionaries to the Waodani tribe in Ecuador who were violently killed in 1956 by those they were attempting to reach. Then, the inspirational, true story of several of the wives who successfully reached out to the same people who had killed their husbands, not only reconciling themselves with the Waodani people, but also immediately ending generations of unbridled vengeance killings within the tribe.
I have yet to see Jim Hanon's other movie, End of the Spear, which chronicles these same events, but in the form of a reenactment, but I hope to, soon.
(sorry, I just couldn't do that to this one)
[resume pirate language]

Garden State (2004) helmed by Zach Braff

My Friend Flicka (1943) helmed by Harold D. Schuster
I'm a little bit interested in seeing t' new movie, Flicka, due out in October based on t' same novel by Mary O'Hara. I know I'd seen bits o' t' '43 film before, but not t' whole thin'. It be done very well. It will be interestin' t' see how t' new version compares.

Moulin Rouge (2001) helmed by Baz Luhrmann
I heard Elton John's, "Your Song" and got t' urge to see this wonderful film again. I enjoy every moment o' it every time I watch it.

American Beauty (1999) helmed by Sam Mendes
Same here. This be a masterfully created, original film and I always enjoy it.

The Hidden Fortress (1958) helmed by Akira Kurosawa
This had been on me 'to see' list for a long time as George Lucas credits this film as an inspiration for his Star Wars films. Mainly, t' element that be used is that t' story be told from t' viewpoint o' t' two lowest characters, or bilge rats. In Star Wars, tis t' droids, in Hidden Fortress tis t' two fools.

The Jerk (1979) helmed by Carl Reiner
This is another one that I'd seen bits o' before. I was familiar with several o' t' gags and one-liners, but I'd never watched it from beginnin' t' end. When Steve Martin opens t' movie with t' line, "I was born a poor black child," ye know yee're in for a fun ride. :-)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) helmed by Steven Spielberg
Revisitin' this excellent film. It still works nearly 30 years later. T' family life sequences shown, especially in t' Neary home, be just perfect. Seein' this again kind o' makes me want t' watch another one o' me all-time favorites, Contact. Hopefully, I'll be able t' watch that one again, soon.

SPC - 'with someone' #3

Well, I've covered my Wife and Daughter in the first two weeks of Self Portrait Challenge's September theme, 'with someone.'

This week, I'll cover the rest of my immediate family:

This is a group shot from this summer. By now, you probably recognize Me, my Wife and Daughter (all far left). The remaining members (from left to right) are Todd (Brother-in-law), Julia (Sister), my Mom, Anderson (nephew), my Dad, and Tyler (nephew).

Here's another special lyric to accompany this week's self portrait. To preface, I love this song. It is among my favorites by the late Rich Mullins. However, as I understand it, this is his story, not mine. Having said that, while this is not my story, I believe that this is representative of my heritage and for that, I am very glad. I know nothing besides this iconic 'happy family,' and I am also glad for that. We're far from perfect, both as a family and as individuals, but we know the value of hard work, good love and real life.

FIRST FAMILY

My folks they were always the first family to arrive
With seven people jammed into a car that seated five
There was one bathroom to bathe and shave in
Six of us stood in line
And hot water for only three
But we all did just fine

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
And somehow gave it wings

I can still hear my dad cussin'
He's working late out in the barn
The spring planting is coming
And the tractors just won't run
Mom she's done the laundry
I can see it waving on the line
Now they've stayed together
Through the pain and the strain of those times

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
And somehow gave it wings

And now they've raised five children
One winter they lost a son
But the pain didn't leave them crippled
And the scars have made them strong
Never picture perfect
Just a plain man and his wife
Who somehow knew the value
Of hard work, good love, and real life

Talk about your miracles
Talk about your faith
My dad he could make things grow
Out of Indiana clay
Mom could make a gourmet meal
Out of just cornbread and beans
And they worked to give faith hands and feet
And somehow gave it wings

Words and Music by
Rich Mullins
Copyright 1989 Edward Grant, Inc. (ASCAP)

Photo Friday - 'Bright'

Here's a picture of a 'Lonely Tree' of which I'm quite fond. It's not my 'favorite' Lonely Tree, though. My favorite Lonely Tree is on a county road near Lizton, Indiana that we often pass while driving to my Parent's house. I have old pictures of that tree in its four seasons, framed, and hanging in our hallway in our house. All those pictures were developed from film, though, before I switched to digital. Maybe someday I'll scan them (but probably not).

This Lonely tree:

is near Alexandria and on my way to work. I hope to get pictures of this tree for all four seasons. When I do, you know where to find them!
I liked the sunburst effect caught through the branches of this particular photo, so I'm posting it for today's theme at Photo Friday, which is 'Bright.'

Have a weekend!

SPC - 'with someone' #2

Self Portrait Challenge continues in September with the theme, 'with someone.'

This week, my Firstborn, my Daughter, Hannah.

If you've been following my entries in SPC over the last few months, you've seen Hannah before. I often like to take pictures of her (and occasionally, us) when we're playing at a park, or at the Children's Museum, library, etc.

Here's a slightly different perspective of she and I playing at a park:



Hannah is every bit of four years old. She loves all things pink and pretty. She's thrilled about becoming a big-sister in a few months. She is so sweet and precious to me. Truly, she fill our house with laughter and our lives with joy. I thank God for her everyday.

I'm reminded of a favorite song by a favorite band -- "When She Sees Me" by The Choir from their 1989 album, Wide-Eyed Wonder.

WHEN SHE SEES ME

I’ll wait outside a moment
You watch the clock on the wall
Listen closely I’ll say when
Sing "London Bridge Is Falling"
No change at all
Now count the beats when I come in

Listen how fast my
little girl’s heart beats
When she sees me
Listen how fast my little
girl’s heart beats
When she sees me

She never minds the weather
She likes the flashes of light
I say "Love, beware black skies"
She’s not afraid of winter
Or thunderous nights
She follows rainbows
in my eyes

Listen how fast my
little girl’s heart beats
When she sees me
Listen how fast my
little girl’s heart beats
When she sees me

The minute hand on the seven
Second hand on the three

We hold each other so close
We dance around and around
She likes the music that I play
She wants to bust out laughing
She’s learnin’ how
She wonders if I’m home to stay

Listen how fast my
little girl’s heart beats
When she sees me
Listen how fast my
little girl’s heart beats
When she sees me

The minute hand on the eight now
A hundred and fifty-three

Listen how fast…

Words by Steve Hindalong
Music by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong
Copyright 1989 Word Music (ASCAP)

Photo Friday - 'Boy'

for Photo Friday -- 'Boy'

A boy, playing baseball. My nephew, Nathan, delivering the pitch.

SPC - 'with someone' #1

September's theme over at Self Portrait Challenge is 'with someone.'

I've got to start with my wife, Christy.


Here we are at her company Christmas party last year.

Christy and I met in college, were married shortly after and we are quickly approaching 10 years of wedded bliss, expecting our second child this December!

Christy and I make a good team. We definitely each provide balance for the other.

Christy is a dedicated wife and mother and I am a lucky man to have her in my life.

Photo Friday - 'Silver'

For Photo Friday 'Silver'