A few things...

In recent headlines:

Plain soap just as effective as antibacterial soap

(I've always been suspicious)

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Since you got to see plenty of Hannah last week with her pictures from her first day of school, here are a couple of recent photos of the Boy:


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Films Recently Watched:

Mrs. Miniver (1942) dir. by William Wyler
Still working through an 18-movie DVD set of 'Best Picture' Oscar-winners that I've had for well over a year now. One more checked off the list. I did enjoy the film. It has to be one of the most 'British' of the Best Picture winners. I did notice that, as chance would have it, this is one of three movies that I've watched recently that stars an actress previously unknown to me: Teresa Wright, the others being Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt and the other:

The Pride of the Yankees (1942) dir. by Sam Wood
Remember when there were professional athletes worthy of respect and admiration?

So Dear to My Heart (1948) dir. by Harold D. Schuster & Hamilton Luske
Classic Disney live-action. Sweet. Great for all ages.

Flightplan (2005) dir. by Robert Schwentke
I really like both Jodie Foster and Peter Sarsgaard. Implausible, but a fun ride.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) dir. by Sergio Leone
This gets better and better every time I watch it.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) dir. by Sergio Leone
Leone was a master with his take on the American West. Not as good as Once Upon a Time in the West, but excellent, nonetheless.

Children of Men (2006) dir. by Alfonso Cuarón
Not my favorite.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) dir. by Steven Spielberg
Always great.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) dir. by Kevin Reynolds
The extended cut of this really suffers from the additional scenes

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) dir. by Adam McKay
You know something's gone terribly wrong when you find yourself wanting to quote from a Will Ferrell movie during dinnertime prayers!

Open Range (2003) dir. by Kevin Costner

Collateral (2004) dir. by Michael Mann

Deja Vu (2006) dir. by Tony Scott

These were both mentioned previously, but I finished them in the meantime:
Life in the Undergrowth
Life of Mammals
Both highly recommended.

SPC - Patterns #5

I had a few minutes a couple of Saturdays ago while Christy was running some errands, so I drove around a bit in the small town where I work to do some location scouting. Conveniently enough, I found this wall and liked the contrast that I saw here in both color and the patterns (natural vs. manmade). I went back one day later that week and included myself for this final week of 'Patterns' at SPC.

First Day of Kindergarten

Hannah started Kindergarten today. She's been pretty excited about it for quite some time now. Each night at bedtime for the last week or so, she would verify exactly how many days were left until school started. She woke up this morning with a nervous stomach, but was a real trooper and set aside her nerves for the excitement of it all. We were so proud of her -- when the bus came she just marched right on and never looked back. She waved at Christy and Harrison when the bus went by the house.

Details are always a bit sketchy from events that Hannah attends without either of her parents, but she summed it up when Christy asked how her first day of Kindergarten went -- Hannah's reply was, "I had a GOOD day."

SPC - Patterns #4

When the 'Patterns' theme was announced for Self Portrait Challenge, I was hoping to find a wall like this to use as a backdrop. Want to know where I found it? On my normal route to work.

I'd passed it probably thousands of times and never noticed it. It's interesting how sometimes we use patterns and routines to keep things simple and predictable, but often, these same patterns and routines prevent us from seeing beauty right under our noses.


I didn't mean for this to fit thematically with my previous entry for Photo Friday, but I guess it does, huh?

...and I generally consider myself to be a reasonably observant fellow.

Photo Friday - 'Old'

This is only about a half-mile from our house. I had barely noticed that most Arby's restaurants had converted to a new and improved, modern-looking sign, even though only one of the three in Anderson still have this older style with the neon lights, etc.

SPC - Patterns #3

2-second exposure -- spinning with tripod -- liked this effect.

More patterns here.

Photo Friday - 'Oddity'

Photo Friday - 'Wet'

SPC - Patterns #2

I'm still having trouble with this theme. I may have come up with one decent idea. This isn't it:

See others' efforts here.