Missing Figure

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Another sandcastle shot. :) I really liked this castle, as I felt it had

a lot of depth to it. There's the mother and her daughter, then the cut

out of the missing figure behind them. I think it speaks to families that

have been separated.

Quote Of The Day:

"And ever has it been known that love knows not its own

depth until the hour of separation." ~ Khalil Gibran

50 Word Story:

I Wish you could Come Home

A single mom working extra hours to keep her child fed, clothed, and

in school. Life was so much easier before he died. Life was so much easier

before he'd boarded that plane. A shadow always there - a reminder of what

once was. Now just reduced to bittersweet, fading memories.

Sweet Ride...

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

This shot was taken the other day outside of a cool store called 2nd Base.

They sell gently used sporting equipment. There were a few pretty cool, old

cruiser bikes outside the front of the shop. I especially liked this one with its

fun gear and fancy writing.

Quote Of The Day:

"Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~ James E. Starrs

50 Word Story:

Lazy Bike Ride

The blue metal frame sparkles in the sunlight, just begging to be taken out

for a spin in the late afternoon. Maybe to the ice cream shop, maybe around

town. The chain clinks and the wheels whir as the bike cruises down the street.

Wind in hair, feet in motion.

Piggyback Ride!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It's a piggyback ride! I remember having piggyback rides on my dad's

shoulders when I was little...It's something that nearly every child grows up

with. This shot is of a father and a daughter in Pike Place, both enjoying,

though one more than the other, a piggyback ride.

Quote Of The Day:

"It's not enough to know how to ride - one must also know

how to fall." ~ Mexican Proverb

50 Word Story:

Little Queen

A little girl tugs at her father's pant leg, staring up at his shoulders. "Daddy!"

she says, reaching her hands out to be picked up. The father obliges, swinging

her up onto his shoulders and holding her legs so she doesn't fall. High up

there, she's queen of the world.

It's.....CONGÉ!

Monday, March 28, 2011

"Ladies...one more announcement...one, two, three, Conge!" That was the

start of the school day this morning for me...What an awesome way to kick off

the week. For all of you who do not know what a "Conge" is, here's a definition:

"It's a conge!" This announcement is recognized by students at Sacred Heart

schools worldwide as signaling a day when they take leave of their regular

studies and channel all their energy into having fun. Conges are planned in

secret and occur completely unexpectedly. There are only two in a school

year, so they're a pretty big deal. Today was a pretty fun Conge. It was candy

themed and the first thing we got were brown shirts with silver Hershey kisses

on them. The activities of the day ranged from playing "gumball dodgeball" to

making lollipop cards for those in Japan, to playing candy bingo, to decorating

cookies, to creating sculptures out of marshmallows and toothpicks, to

watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, to ending it with a life sized

game of Candyland in the gym, where all the teachers dressed up as characters.

Can I just say one thing? I love my school.

Quote Of The Day:

"Live for today...plan for tomorrow...party tonight!"

~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Saved by the...Conge.

It seems to be just another normal Monday...windy, boring, tired, and slow.

The students sit in their circle, still half asleep, listening to announcements for

the week. Then the magic word comes out. Conge. The room erupts with

screams, laughter, grins, and joy. Forget school, it's time to go party!

Odd Architecture

Sunday, March 27, 2011

"What is that?" "That's a house...a triangle house." "Why...?" "For fun?" Sorry

for the lame shots...the house itself was pretty cool. It actually was a triangle.

I think that it'd be kind of fun to live in for a while...though it'd be hard to store

round things in...

Quote Of The Day:

"There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at,

sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you

can walk through." ~ Dan Rice

50 Word Story:

Calculating Creator

It all starts as a dream, as a longing to create and build images from the

mind's eye. Pencils, sketchbook, calculator, ruler...tools to make a vision

concrete, steel, glass, and, most of all, real. The imagination plays with the

framework, the design, until it's something just barely possible to create.

Vinyl

Saturday, March 26, 2011

This was a cool sign I saw when we were wandering around in the city

today. The writing on the record player reads: Turn on, tune in, drop the

needle! I really liked how colorful the sign was, as well as the name of the

place.

Quote Of The Day:

"Vinyl records...hands down, the best use of fossil fuels."

~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Record Player

The black record slides out of its packaging, new, inviting, and just itching

to be played. It's mounted on the record player and set spinning, the graphic

in the middle just a blur. The needle is lifted and dropped into one of the

grooves. Sweet, new music crackles to life.

Long Live the Queen

Friday, March 25, 2011

This is a shot of a script from last year's musical, Cinderella in which I was

the queen. This has been my favorite line of the musical, as it reads: Queen

until the very end. ♥

Quote Of The Day:

"I will not be triumphed over." ~ Cleopatra

50 Word Story:

Until the Curtain Closes

The red curtain waves slightly, the audience hushed in their seats, waiting

for the show to start. The orchestra starts its intro, light notes penetrating

darkness. The curtain rolls back to reveal a queen, spotlight on. She stands

there in a shimmering dress...living the moment. And she begins to sing.

Bath Time!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sorry for the lame shot today...I took this picture of a birdbath in

my yard the other day and...well..it's what I've got.

Quote Of The Day:

"A bird in hand is a certainty. But a bird in the bush may sing."

~ Bret Harte

50 Word Story:

Bath Time for the Birds

Birdsong filters through the trees as a few robins flutter out and land on

the rim of the bird bath. One hops in, shaking its wings and head in the water,

splishing and splashing around as if it were a bubble bath. Chirping happily,

they fly off with clean wings.

Out on the Farm

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

This is a nice little farm that I've been to a few times. They have nice produce,

animals to pet, and wonderful photo ops. It just seems like a happy place for

work and for play.

Quote Of The Day:

"The farmer works the soil, the agriculturalist works the

farmer." ~ Eugene F. Ware

50 Word Story:

Just Another Day on the Farm

Sunlight drifts over the fields, ripe crops shining in the late afternoon. A horse

neighs from a stall nearby. Pigs poke their noses out of the slats in their corral,

eagerly awaiting scraps. A herding dog weaves in and out of sheep. A moo

echoes through the air. Farm life.

Lone Lantern

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I took this picture when I was on vacation in Pennsylvania. I really liked

this lantern against the brick and black of the wall along with the white lights.

Not much to say tonight...wish me luck on my math quiz tomorrow.

Quote Of The Day:

"Faith means living with uncertainty - feeling your way through

life, letting your heart guide you like a lantern in the dark."

~ Dan Millman

50 Word Story:

Fortunate Pinprick

The wind howled in the night, spraying the sleeting rain sideways and into

the coats of weary travelers. The streets were empty except for the three of

them. Hanging onto the awning of a shop was a light in the darkness. It was

swaying in the wind, though promising sanctuary.

Lazy Porch Afternoons

I grabbed this shot yesterday of a friend's dog just chillin' on his porch. He

was lying there in the sunshine, having a grand old time. He's got the easy life...

Quote Of The Day:

"Friends are the pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold you

up, sometimes they lean on you, and sometimes it's just enough

to know that they are standing by." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Welcoming Wood

Beams of sunlight fall across the worn, old boards, warming the wood. Two

deck chairs sit there in the sun, unoccupied - just waiting for someone to come

sit down and relax. A black dog lies sprawled across the steps. Cold lemonade

waits on the table. The porch is inviting, calming.

Between Seasons

Sunday, March 20, 2011

I took this shot yesterday of the lovely cherry blossom trees against the

still snowy mountain. It was a beautiful view, even though it's not promising

for spring weather...I really liked the colors and contrast in this picture.

Quote Of The Day:

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." ~ Hal Borland

50 Word Story:

In Limbo

A blue sky hangs overhead, puffy, white clouds drifting lazily across the

bright expanse. The cherry trees are in full bloom, their delicate, pink

blossoms bright, scattering the ground like a blanket. The air is crisp and

chilly. Snow is still on the mountain above. Winter hasn't given in yet.

Furry Humans...

Saturday, March 19, 2011

"Excusami? Vere is de librarie?" That's all I can think of when I see the first

picture of my silly dog wearing my father's glasses. Of course, Zorro went

along with this quite willingly, not seeming to mind the glasses or the camera.

The second shot is of Georgia, my grandma's dog. Georgia has a habit of

jumping up onto seats at the table when no one is sitting there. She won't try

to steal food or anything, just wants to be up and part of the family...

Quote Of The Day:

"The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of

yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he

will make a fool of himself too." ~ Samuel Butler

50 Word Story:

Oh, this is Your Bed?

A bumbling, little puppy making his way in his new home. Big furniture,

lots of stairs, all so inviting. As he grows larger, he finds he can relish in these

delights. The sofa is nice. The bed is nice. Even the kitchen chairs are nice.

How could anybody say no?

Somebody Ran out of Names...

Friday, March 18, 2011

This is a street near my grandma's house that I've always found funny. This

is an actual street, not a joke, my aunt lives on this road...

Quote Of The Day:

"When they were naming the animals, somebody got lazy:

anteater? What's it doing? It's eating ants. DONE!"

~ Demetri Martin

50 Word Story:

Long Day of Work

They pored over the map of their new city, pointing out streets and blocks

and buildings. There was Main Street, Walnut Street, Washington Avenue,

Front Street, Cedar Road, and Academy Drive to name a few. Only one

remained unnamed. "What're we going to call this one?" "...Umm... Street

Road! Done!"

Leprechaun Treasure

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Well, this is my trying to post some picture that has to do with St. Patrick's

Day. I was about to blog something else for today when I realized what holiday

it was...So this is my best attempt at doing something green and treasury. It's

some garden art in my yard against a moss covered stump thingy...Anyway,

happy St. Patrick's Day!

Quote Of The Day:

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin

transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic."

~ Adrienne Cook

50 Word Story:

Golden Glitter Showers

Green shamrocks decorate the windows of the classroom, each with four

leaves. A large paper rainbow with an enormous pot of gold at the end is

pinned up on the board. The class is making leprechaun traps, eager to see

if they can catch one. Second grade St. Patty's Day.

Just Jammin'

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

This shot is from Washington Square Park where I saw these three friends

sitting together and making music, despite the freezing weather. It looked like

a good, fun time.

Quote Of The Day:

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no

pain." ~ Bob Marley

50 Word Story:

Softness in a Bustling City

The weather is bone chilling cold, though many people are still crowding

through New York streets. Washington Square Park, set off form the main

streets, is quieter. Two people play chess, dogs run around in their park, and

a group of three sits there, making music for all to hear.

Solo

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

This is a mural in Greenwich Village that I thought was really cool. Up close,

it was a bunch of colors and shapes or objects. There were outlines of people

painted on top: a solitary person and lots of helping hands reaching out.

Quote Of The Day:

"You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with."

~ Wayne Dyer

50 Word Story:

Loneliness - not a Synonym to Unhappiness

He was a shadow with no body, just drifting along through the rest of

them. They tried to reach out to secure him, to help him. They thought that

he was suffering. It was human instinct to take in a loner. But he drifted past, in

the company of himself.

Pike Street Fish Fry

Monday, March 14, 2011

We went to a fish and chips place today that had amazing fish tacos...

Yum! I had been craving fish tacos for over a week and it was soooo good.

We then wandered around a nearby bookstore and had a really fun afternoon.

The first picture is of the sign outside the restaurant. The second is a sticker

I saw and thought was funny.

Quote Of The Day:

"Caution is a most valuable asset in fishing, especially if you are

the fish." ~ Author Unknown

50 Word Story:

Order Fish Tacos - You Won't Regret It

The small, local joint isn't anything special in terms of decor or space usage.

It's a slightly cramped space where the kitchen and eating area close in on each

other. Large windows overlook the street outside. They claim to have the best

fish and chips in town. They're not lying.

Off to Chinatown

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Another shot from New York....this is Chinatown. Bustling, loud, and smelling

like dumplings. There are tons of Chinese shops packed into the street, it's

really hard to choose.We had dim sum in Chinatown and wandered around. It

was crazy and definitely a lot of fun.

Quote Of The Day:

"Don't open a shop unless you like to smile." ~ Chinese Proverb

50 Word Story:

Nǐ hǎo

Paper lanterns hang from the awnings of the many, packed stores, swaying

in the wind. Paper dragons can be found prowling around shops, lured in by

the delicious smell of fresh dim sum. There are so many restaurants, all

crammed into the tiny streets. Pandemonium is present in Chinatown.

Guardian Lion

Saturday, March 12, 2011

This picture isn't the greatest one, so sorry about that. When we

were visiting relatives, we were wandering around a nearby town and

happened upon an alley that led to some great houses off the street. There

were all kinds of things back there...gazebos, bird houses, statues...it

reminded me of the Secret Garden.

Quote Of The Day:

"A lion sleeps in the heart of every brave man."

~ Turkish Proverb

50 Word Story:

Stony Sentries

Two stone lions lay on pillars outside the library, their heads raised to

passersby, their stone tails curled around their large, grey paws. They sit

there, guarding the books inside the library, their unmoving eyes watching

all. As it gets dark, the tail of the left one flicks. He winks.

A Thousand Paper Cranes

Friday, March 11, 2011

Today I was about to post that this post was going to come tomorrow,

but I overcame my brain-deadness and my laziness. I apologize now if this

post isn't the greatest I've posted. Anyway, this is another sandcastle picture.

This one features Sadako. Sadako was a girl who lived in Hiroshima. She was

diagnosed with leukemia which came from the bomb that fell on Hiroshima

when she was a baby. In a Japanese legend, it's said that if a person makes

one thousand paper cranes, the gods will grant their wish. Sadako sets out to

make one thousand cranes while she is in the hospital, but she herself does

not get to finish. After she passes away, her friends and family finish the

cranes. Sadako is known for her courage and as a reminder of the aftermath of

the bombing of Hiroshima.

Quote Of The Day:

"I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over

the world." ~ Sadako Sasaki

50 Word Story:

Paper Wings

Strings of paper cranes hang from the ceiling, each a slightly different

size and shape. They vary in color...some pastel shades, others vibrant, some

shiny and gold, others in different patterns. They ruffle in the breeze. At once

they're free. Flying out the window, their wings crinkling, reflecting the sun.

Ch. 7 - A Mad Tea Party

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Mad Tea Party statue in Central Park! :) The first shot is the whole statue,

followed by close ups of the Mad Hatter, March Hare, and Alice. Note: further

editing is going to be done on both the Mad Hatter and March Hare...I just

need a bit of help.

Quote Of The Day:

"Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage." ~ Catherine Douzel

Excerpt from Ch. 7 - A Mad Tea Party:

"Have some wine," the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.

Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. "I don't

see any wine," she remarked.

"There isn't any," said the march Hare.

"Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it," said Alice angrily.

"It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited," said the March

Hare.

"I didn't know it was your table," said Alice; "it's laid for a great many more

than three."

"Your hair wants cutting," said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for

some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech.

"You should learn not to make personal remarks," Alice said with some

severity; "it's very rude."

The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was,

"Why is a raven like a writing-desk?"

~ Lewis Carroll

Impostor...

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

So my dad and I are in Battery Park and we see about six of these guys, all

imitating the Statue of Liberty. We were super confused until we saw a little

girl go up to have her picture taken with one...

Quote Of The Day:

"Success and failure are the same impostor." ~ Rudyard Kipling

50 Word Story:

Dress Up in Battery Park

The statue herself stands far away on Ellis Island, proudly holding her

torch. Many people line up to get on the ferries to her. Battery Park is

crowded, most people tourists. About seven people stand around the park,

dressed as the statue. No one seems to know what they're doing.

Taco Tuesday

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

This is one of my favorite shots from NY...We passed by a bunch of shops

on Restaurant Row, but this little Mexican one had the best sign by far. I have

been craving fish tacos for so long now...

Quote Of The Day:

"Never underestimate how much assistance, how much

satisfaction, how much comfort, how much soul and

transcendence there might be in a well made taco..."

~ Tom Robbins

50 Word Story:

Oh Yeah!

The windows in the small Mexican restaurant are lit brightly. They cast a

glow out onto the darkening street, the smells of freshly made rice, beans, and

tacos drifting out alongside. It's Taco Tuesday on Restaurant Row and the

place is happening. A small, local joint with killer delicious food.

Little Italy!

Monday, March 7, 2011

A shot down the street in Little Italy. Little Italy and Chinatown

were a lot of fun to visit while in New York...

Quote Of The Day:

"The Creator made Italy from designs by Michaelangelo."

~ Mark Twain

50 Word Story:

One Little Italy in One Big US City

The street is full of people, American and Italian flags flapping overhead

in the wind that funnels down the corridor like street. The breeze wafts the

scents from authentic Italian restaurants through the buildings. Waiters stand

outside restaurants, beckoning people to come in like family. It's dangerous

to venture through at lunchtime.