SPC - September - #2

Well, I got a late start on the September theme and I'm glad this is the last week for 'Bathroom.'

But you know what they say: When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.

Anyway.

As most of you probably already know, my oldest child started Kindergarten a few weeks ago. Apparently, school-sponsored roller skating parties are a big deal around these parts, so I did my civil duty and took my daughter roller-skating.

She had never had skates of any kind on her feet and it had been about 10 years for me. She did about as well as could be expected. I held her hand the entire time and managed not to fall down myself or on top of her. She only had one bad fall, but recovered nicely. All things considered, I thought we did OK. As you can see, I even managed to work up the nerve to get a shot of the both of us while skating.


And for the SPC theme:

It's difficult enough to go to the bathroom wearing skates, let alone setting up a camera for a timed self-portrait in there.

See what other are doing in the bathroom here.

Photo Friday - 'The Beach'

It be September 19th...

...an' ye know what that means.

As I mentioned late in th' day last year, Septembree 19th be Talk Like A Pirate Day.

You be havin' most o' th' tide ahead o' ye this voyage, so get at 't.

SPC - September - #1

The theme for September is 'Bathrooms.' Yeah, that's right -- bathrooms.

That's the reason why this is the third week of the challenge and I'm just now posting my first attempt.



Don't know that I'll get one up for next week either. Just not inspired by the theme. Others are doing wonderful things with the theme -- go check them out here.

Photo Friday - 'Purple'

Took a small break from Photo Friday during their recent themes:

"Unfinished" -- I started to take a picture for this theme -- hmmm, I'm not sure what happened.

"Insignificant" -- I simply couldn't be bothered for this theme -- I had much more important things to do.

This week is 'Purple' so I'm submitting this sunset picture of the steeple of Park Place Church of God near the Anderson University campus:

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.