Day Fifty Nine: What A Difference A Day Made

Five days ago I strolled out to Potter's Lake in 60° weather to capture my photo of the day wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Temperatures this warm are hardly the norm for late February in Kansas, but they are not unheard of either. In fact, I remember enjoying a rather nice round of golf last year about this time (turns out I play better when I haven't practiced in three months).

Even yesterday it was warm enough to enjoy playing with the dogs outside without thinking about wearing a jacket. What a difference a day made. This morning Lawrence woke up to two fresh inches of snow on the ground and the freezing temperatures to match.

Here is a photo of campus this morning, with Potter's Lake in the foreground and Fraser Hall disappearing in the distance, obscured by the falling snow.

As a student at KU I learned to adapt to the rapid temperature changes in this region. Some nights I would leave the window in my un-air-conditioned dorm room open to keep from sweating myself to sleep in the stifling heat, only to wake up in the morning like a frozen Pete-sicle following a 30° temperature swing.

Not convinced yet of how quickly things can change in Kansas? Here are two photos - on the left is my pic-of-the-day from a few days ago, and on the right is the same scene today. Consider this: both pictures are in color.

(click to enlarge)

A day made quite a difference for the appearance of Lawrence. I guess the golf will have to wait for a little while longer...at least 24 little hours.

Day Fifty-Eight: Fins To the Left, Fins To the Right

Let's face it, Kansas is not known as a hotbed of cultural diversity. To the coastal dweller our Midwestern state might appear to be a melting pot of wheat farmers, cattle raisers, and corn growers. But the college town of Lawrence is a world within a world when it comes to diversity in Kansas.

No, it might not be a melting pot like New York City, but at the very least Lawrence is an interesting and enjoyable fondue.

Proof that Lawrence stands out from the majority of the state can be seen in the latest presidential election results. While the Republican contender McCain grabbed the majority of votes in the state by a large margin (16 points), Lawrence heavily favored Democrat Obama (64% to McCain's 34%).

Proof of diversity within Lawrence itself can often be found on a stroll down Massachusetts Street. The college crowd dominates the downtown scene on most weekend nights, and their presence somewhat desensitizes the rest of Lawrence to "the bizarre."

Driving home, you might not give a second glance to the guy wearing the cheap plastic Halloween wolf mask (in mid-February) walking down the sidewalk eating a burrito, or to the grown man on the corner in the pink tutu.

Okay, maybe the man in the tutu gets a second glance.

There usually is something out of the ordinary waiting to catch your eye in Lawrence. Today this old Cadillac fit the bill.

Now, while I can appreciate the beauty and nostalgia of cars from this era, I am not a "car guy" myself. I could not look at the shape of the fins or the style of taillights and tell you the year that this car was made.

And for that I default to my siblings and parents -- THIS IS A TEST TO SEE IF YOU ARE READING MY BLOG -- drop a comment and let us know what you know about this car!

I know this much: as classic as your car might be, you still have to feed the meter or face the wrath of the Lawrence parking patrol (notice the yellow envelope on the windshield).

That's too bad for this car's owner - parking tickets in downtown Lawrence can cost you upwards of 2 dollars!

Lawrence certainly is no New York City.

Day Fifty-Seven: Double Crossing

I guess I'll have to admit, I have a slight fascination with trains. I wasn't really even aware of it until I started this project, but trains are the subject of a lot of my pictures.

Maybe it comes from all of the toy trains I did or didn't play with growing up.

Maybe it is a result of watching my favorite movie heroes weave their way through trains on the big screen (Indiana Jones with his whip, Marty McFly with his hoverboard...)

Maybe it is simply due to the fact that I now live across the street from a train depot.

I think what interests me most is the stark contrast of old and new as these trains pass through Lawrence, an eternally youthful college town. The first railroad line to come through Lawrence was the Union Pacific Eastern Division in 1865 - eleven years after the city itself was established.

Today some of these tracks transverse major city streets in Lawrence and are never given a second thought by drivers kachunking their way over them. A set of tracks cuts across a heavily trafficked section of 6th Street close to City Hall. The small portion of line - no more than two football fields in length - connects the Journal World newspaper printing facility to the main rail line.

I have lived in Lawrence for nearly three-fourths of my life, and the first time I can remember seeing this little track in use was only three weeks ago. I remember thinking how bizarre it felt to be waiting in a long line of cars all momentarily paused - where most had never paused before - as an old locomotive engine pulled a single rail car deliberately across a major thoroughfare.

There are no flashing signal lights or safety bars to be lowered on 6th Street. The only warning of the encroaching interruption of these drivers' commutes was a toot of the horn by the engineer who was riding alongside the massive vehicle as it peeked its way beyond the sidewalk and into the roadway.

Besides thinking how incongruous this all was (okay, I looked up the word incongruous after the fact - but still, it was incongruous), I was also wishing I had brought my camera with me. I didn't know when I would get to see this again!

Well, driving home today that old engine caught my eye as it weaved its way toward the Journal World building, preparing to lock onto that single rail car - and this time I had my camera with me. So I quickly turned the car around, parked without feeding the meter (that's my car, first on the left), and snapped a few photos.

(click to enlarge)

This is the picture that I liked the best - here the 2-car train is actually crossing Vermont Street, one lazy right turn away from surpassing 6th Street and reaching its destination a stone's throw away.

I manipulated the photo both to emphasize the train (and engineer) and to give more of an old-fashioned feel to a present-day scene. I hope you enjoy it!

Day Fifty-Six: What's Black and White and Shed All Over?

Here's a riddle for you.

What do you get when you cross:

3 weeks of rainless weather
2 sets of lost car keys
1 car parked directly under a tree, and
1,000+ hungry robins on a daily migration?

The answer is today's picture-of-the-day: Click here to reveal it!

---

This neighbor's car has remained stationary for over a month now, in my parking space nonetheless. Don't get me wrong, I'm not too eager to park there at the moment - I'd be at the car wash going through quarters faster than a pig farmer at a laundromat.*

Compounding the absurdity of the situation is that most of the air has now escaped out of the front passenger tire, meaning that even if the keys were found or a new set were to arrive, the car still could not be driven. I find that the flat tire only adds to the aesthetic nature of the overall scene.

I took this picture today because showers are in the forecast for tomorrow and I would hate for the memory of this bird-bombed car to wash away with the rain. Like a true friend it is there to greet me on my way out of the door each morning, and it is there waiting for me when I return home from work every afternoon.

I realize the photo isn't much to speak of - the car itself is the true work of art. It's like going to the Louvre and taking a snapshot of the Mona Lisa.** But for the birds, drop by drop, this car which was once a blank canvas has become a masterpiece.

*I don't know many*** pig farmers, and I also don't know if they frequent the laundromats. But I imagine if they did, they would go through a lot of quarters!

**Yeah, it's exactly like that.

***any.

Day Fifty-Five: This Ain't Goodbye...

Today is Fat Tuesday, and another Mardi Gras celebration is coming to a close. There wasn't much raucous celebrating to be found around here today - I guess Lawrence, KS isn't quite New Orleans...and although there are a few times a year when Mass Street might resemble Bourbon Street, downtown Larryville is no Vieux Carré.

Fat Tuesday not only marks the end of the Carnival celebration, it also signifies the beginning of Lent with the dawn of Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time for purification, preparation and reconciliation. For some Mardi Grasers it might take 40 days and 40 nights to reconcile a particularly gluttonous Fat Tuesday.

For others Lent becomes a time to challenge one's self by doing extra or doing without. My "doing extra" this time around involves extra time praying and extra time sleeping. My "without" list includes time wasted (which compliments the extra time sleeping), the snooze button on the alarm clock (always a toughy), and...the cherry Cokes.

Well, all pop, actually. Or soda, if you prefer. Either way, this particular carbonated beverage will not be making an appearance in my stomach until Easter Sunday rolls around. The unopened 2-Liter bottle of Pepsi in my fridge will stay unopened. The grenadine in my cabinet will go untouched. And as the maraschino cherries...well, there are always ice-cream sundaes, I guess.

What's that? I gave those up, too?

*sigh*

Oh well, April 12th isn't that far away. And as much as I will be looking forward to wasting time sleeping in, hitting the snooze button while guzzling cherry Coke ice-cream floats (?), there will probably be even more important things to celebrate that Sunday.

Farewell, cherry Cokes. As the Honeydogs sing,

Raise your glasses high

This ain't goodbye -

It's just so long for a while.

---

Photographer's Notes: If anyone is looking to get me an "Ash Wednesday gift," a wireless flash for my camera would do the trick! I was not able to get the lighting/shadows I wanted using the built-in flash for this shot, so I eventually resorted to covering the flash with my hand. The streak of light you see in the photo above is the flash sneaking through my fingers.

Also, a special thanks to friend Jordan for suggesting the pool table as a backdrop for the picture - that gave it the Mardi Gras coloring it needed!

Day Fifty-Four: Potter's Lake

Yesterday I introduced you to Polly's Pond, one of newest bodies of water on the University of Kansas campus. Today's photo subject is KU's oldest body of water: Potter's Lake.

Potter's Lake came into existence around the year 1910 when it was decided that a reservoir was needed to provide water to the campus in case of fire. Once deep enough for a high dive, the lake (named after then Kansas senator T.M. Potter) was put to use by swimmers in the summers and skaters in the winters.

Though no longer a swimming hole, students can still be found picnicking, studying, or resting here between classes.

Erosion and pollution are threatening the survival of Potter's Lake, which is now measures only 3 feet at its deepest point. If build-up of sediment continues on the lake's floor, it could eventually dry up completely. Currently a group of students has started an initiative, the Potter's Lake Project, to help in the restoration of the lake.

Students in need of a quiet getaway, pets in need of a place to run, and photographers in need of a photo-of-the-day can all enjoy the peaceful refuge that Potter's Lake provides. Hopefully it remains a centerpiece of the KU campus for generations to come.

Day Fifty-Three: On the Dole

The Dole Institute of Politics, named after Kansas Senator Bob Dole, is a relatively new addition to the University of Kansas. Dedicated in 2003 and located on the university's west campus, the Dole Institute houses the former senator's collection of paperwork from his 37 years in Congress.

The building serves as a library, a center for research, and a forum for political discussion and guest speakers from thousands of miles and hundreds of years away (I once saw Teddy Roosevelt - or someone that looked a lot like him - discuss his time in office while visiting the Dole Institute).

The building is covered in architectural intricacies that tie in bits and peices of the senator's background, from his birth in Russell, KS, to his service in the military and his time in Congress. A limestone pillar outside the Institute bears the Dole name and introduces visitors to a little of the geography (sedimentary petrology, to be specific) of Kansas. For more information on the Dole Institute, its architecture, its history and its future, click here.

Here the Dole Institute is seen at night, reflected in Polly's Pond (named after its benefactor). This scene is almost too picturesque: I know I'm not the first - and probably not even the thousandth - person to take these pictures. As a photographer, one of the things I like to do is capture something unfamiliar, or something familiar in a way nobody has ever seen before.

While I might not have accomplished that here, I did get to experiment with some longer exposure times and learn a little bit more about the camera, so I'm satisfied with the day's work.

If this does happen to be your first view of the Dole Institute, you should stop by sometime and take a closer look!

(click to enlarge)

Day Fifty-Two: All the Live Long Day

This long pile of railroad ties seems like it would be enough to keep a whole group of people workin' on the railroad for quite a while. And though the endless stack appeared virtually overnight a few months back, it has remained untouched all of the live long days since.

A walk down the tracks of the old depot in Lawrence will reveal some broken ties that are in need of replacing, but along with other renovations to the depot that have been discussed, changes are slow to come.

And so, like the old orange and green BNSF engine in the background - which sits and hums 24 hours a day, staying warm in case it is needed to help transfer a load of cargo from one track to the next - these ties wait patiently, bound to each other in the pile until the day they are finally laid to rest.

Day Fifty-One: Byrd On a Wire

My guitar hasn't seen much action in the past few weeks. Thanks to a losing battle with laryngitis I've been somewhat silenced musically as of late.

I haven't been able to sing, and since I treat the guitar mostly as an accompaniment to my singing, I haven't been playing much of the ol' 6-string lately either.

Oh sure, I could use this time to hone my solo guitar skills and become a more well-rounded musician. But I'd much rather sit sullenly on my couch and brood over that which I have lost, lamenting the fact that I can no longer (temporarily) sing, and writing songs of the unrequited love that my vocal folds must now be feeling.

Or I'm just lazy.

Either way, today my desire to play and sing overcame my stubbornness and I finally went to the doctor for some medication. Hopefully I am on the mend and will be building back the calluses on my guitar-playing fingertips in no time.

The guitar pick that you see in between the strings of today's picture came from the stage of a Tracy Byrd concert in Iowa City. I forget the name of the little bar he played, except that I referred to it as "the aviary" - I mean, we were all Byrd watching, after all.

Tracy is one of my favorites, not only because the songs he records are so good, but because he always puts on an authentic, down home, fun live performance, and consistently plays small, intimate venues when he could most likely sell out to a much bigger crowd.

I hope to see Tracy live in concert again soon.
I hope to hear him played on my guitar even sooner.

Day Fifty: No Two Alike

The subject of today's photo is a shadow. This unique shadow belongs to a snowflake that flew all the way from Oregon over a year ago.

Bend, Oregon is home to my niece Kyra, who I believe designed this particular paper snowflake, though it could have been her mom - they are both creative!

I'm a big fan of snowy weather, and a winter just doesn't seem complete without a substantial snowfall. Those are hard to come by in Lawrence (and when we get one, it usually shuts the city down), so I enjoy traveling to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, or Oregon to get winter snow fix.

Though ice-skating and downhill skiing have long been my favorite winter activities (not including inciting riotous snowball fights and building ridiculously large sledding jumps), I picked up snowboarding two years ago on a trip to Salida, CO.

I quickly refined my skills (translation: learned how not to fall on my rear), and with a few pointers from another of my nieces, Bailey (an avid snowboarder), I added another activity to my list of winter favorites.

On my last trip out to Oregon I was able to practice my snowboarding technique on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor (in white-out conditions!). It's hard to believe that an entire year has passed since this snowflake first landed in Kansas. I still keep it hanging in my room as a year-round reminder of family and winter fun.

Day Forty-Nine: Sky Light

This wooden crossbeam structure will one day support the roof of a new pavilion outside Cordley Elemtary School in Lawrence. It caught my attention on the way home from my work at Lawrence High School, a building that is undergoing some renovations of its own.

Many of the schools in Lawrence (primarily those on the east side of town) have been undergoing reconstructive surgery - some major, some minor - as an attempt to ward off old age, trying to keep up with their more youthful west Lawrence counterparts.

Lawrence High, which turns 55 this year, will soon be the proud papa of a new sports complex hoping to bring football - among other things - back to the high school campus (facing the rising costs of renting the town's university football stadiums on Friday nights throughout the fall).

As for Cordley Elementary (just down the road from Lawrence High), it is the oldest elementary school in Lawrence, originally built in 1915. Since then additions and expansions have heightened and lengthened the building to its current size and shape.

Soon students will be able to enjoy the school's outdoor recreation area with a newly covered structure to shelter them from the elements. But until the pavilion construction is complete, passers by can enjoy its many "windows to the sky."

Day Forty-Eight: =)

The person who put this smile on my hand knows how to put a smile on my face.

She also shows intermittent signs of ADHD while studying for the bar exam, as evidenced by today's picture.

=)

Day Forty-Seven: Stars and Stripes

Happy Presidents Day! Flags flew on every corner of Mass Street today in honor of George Washington's birthday. The third Monday of February this year was a windy one, perfect for flying flags.

Below: Old Glory flutters above pedestrians crossing towards the Watkins Community Museum of History in downtown Lawrence.

Day Forty-Six: Midnight Tracks

The Amtrak train runs through Lawrence twice daily - once before the sun rises in the morning (at least this time of year), and once long after it has again set. Shown here is the late night train as it waits for a few passengers to board at the depot in east Lawrence.

From here the train will head to Union Station in Kansas City and eventually arrive in Chicago. Some day I may stow away for a quick trip east or west, but not tonight...I'll have to be at work by the time that early morning train rolls around!

Day Forty-Five: More Midnight Stacks

The KU student experience isn't complete without at least one late night spent studying at Watson Library. As the main library at the university, Watson is a centerpiece of the KU campus. The lights in these windows will glow well into the night as students research topics for papers, cram for tests, and hunt for books in "the stacks."

For all of its architectural grandeur, the Watson stacks - made up of half-floor levels barely tall enough for this 6-foot-plus photographer to stand up straight - resemble an old warehouse with thousands upon thousands of books thrown up on rickety metal shelves (in an albeit well-organized manner).

In fact, the only thing more rickety than the shelving is the old-school elevator that serves as one method for traveling from stack to stack. Of course, the elevator will only operate if you first pull shut the accordion-style metal-frame door on the outside. And while the elevator has never given me any cause to doubt its ability, I can't help but wonder if I may need to plan an amazing escape every time I enter it.

The steps up to the library's main doors (shown below) will remain busy throughout the night as some students come to hit the stacks, and others leave to hit the sacks.

Day Forty-Four: Midnight Stacks

Look north in Lawrence past the river bend and you might see a pillar of smoke looming above the horizon. This steady cloudlike stream is part of the emissions of the Westar Energy plant, a major supplier of electric energy to Lawrence.

The Lawrence plant - with one large smokestack that never seems to rest - can appear quite ominous, especially at night. One of my midnight training runs (I sometimes like to do my long runs late at night) took me on a river trail towards the isolated power plant. As I came in to a clearing in the trees its dominating presence all at once gave me a chill - and compelled me to run even faster!

In all, Westar has 12 power plants which use fuels such as natural gas, oil, and diesel to produce electric energy. Plants like the one in Lawrence have been the object of some scrutiny lately because of their use of coal (and other fossil fuels) to produce energy.

Many of those that fear harmful effects of carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels are pushing for the development of wind energy production. While efforts are being made on all sides to modify procedures to be more "environmentally friendly," any significant changes are slow in coming.

Are environmentalists just being long-winded?

Is Westar Energy just blowing smoke?

As today's photo suggests: the answer, my friend, just might be blowin' in the wind.

Day Forty-Three: Midnight Snacks

Ah, Munchers. How best to describe thee? Could mere words do you justice? Your down home atmosphere, your friendly staff, your cream cheese donuts...how shall I express what you mean to me?

Perhaps a haiku:

Any time of day
Cream cheese donuts taste so sweet
My belly it grows

Nah, too limiting. Maybe iambic pentameter*:

I had a cream cheese donut just last night
I know that it was true love at first bite
I can't remember feeling so amazed
By twist or frosted sprinkles or by glazed
If e'er I were to be electrocuted
This would be my last meal, undisputed!

(*Thank you 10th grade English class!)

Hmm...too morbid. There's always a limerick:

There are things that can drive people so nuts
That without them they could really go nuts
Like women or beer
Or things they hold dear
For me it's those darn cream cheese donuts!

Okay, it's a work in progress.

I'll have to mull it over a little...

...perhaps while enjoying a cream cheese donut...

...at Munchers.

Day Forty-Two: For the Birds

An article in the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper today highlighted a recent phenomenon that has been occuring on the west side of town. Straight out of a Hitchcock movie, thousands upon thousands of birds have been soaring in and congregating among the tree-tops, making their presence known through sight and sound (and through other birdly means, if you happen to be the unlucky one walking underneath at congregation time).

The birds seem to come in two waves: 4:30 p.m. brings the (yellow-bellied) cedar waxwings (pictured here). Small flocks will arrive and their constituents will find any and all open tree branches. Like cars in a bustling parking lot, no tree branch is left unoccupied for long - as quickly as one posse of birds flaps away, empty branches are filled by new flocks flying in for a brief stop-over.

(click to enlarge)

5 p.m. brings the second shift, during which the (orange-bellied) robins make their entrance and each tree starts to resemble rush hour in an overpopulated metropolis.

Cedar trees are apparently the ideal bed-and-breakfast for these birds, with all of the modern aviary amenities: comfortable branches, great views, and a continental cedar berry breakfast before their pre-dawn red-eye flight out of town.

The news story caught my attention as a good photo opportunity. I hesistated a little bit, because 1) the article already displayed pictures of its own, and 2) it seemed to scream out, "hey everyone, come take a picture of this!" I don't know what the photography equivalent of an "ambulance chaser" is, but it seems like a moniker I might try to avoid in general.

Thinking I should get some shots from unique angles, I moved to the base of the tree and aimed the camera upwards for a little while - that is, until I heard the sound of raindrops falling, and then noticed the clear blue sky, and then pieced it all together:

"Those aren't raindrops.

...I'm outta here."

Day Forty-One: Raindrops on Roadses

If I had to list a few of my favorite things, I'd start with the obvious: family, close friends, and trips to the Chinese buffet. I'd probably follow that up with the smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of a boat idling in the water, the feel of a basketball spinning in my hands, and a warm rain inviting me to come outside and get comfortably soaked in a matter of seconds.

While all of these things are reasonably common occurrences (the Chinese buffet is all too common), they are not all easy to come by in the month of February - especially the warm rain. That is what made today so enjoyable and unique. This day, in which afternoon temperatures approaching 70 degrees were complimented by a steady evening rainfall, was much needed in an area that had been under a fire ban due to excessively dry weather conditions.

While I enjoy walks in the rain (and candlelight dinners, and Richard Gere movies*), my non-waterproof camera starts complaining if it gets too wet...so I covered it in a plastic bag and only stayed out long enough to get this picture (which was long enough to get pretty well soaked, myself).

The fast exposure only caught a few raindrops bouncing up from the slick pavement (it sure looked like it was raining heavier than this), but I like the effect nonetheless.

Next week: whiskers on kittens.

*(Once again, tip of the hat to Joe Monaco)

Day Forty: How High the Moon

Driving home tonight I saw something out of the corner of my eye sitting just over the horizon. At second glance I recognized it as the moon glowing through the trees - it was so large and brightly colored that it took me by surprise. I had to pull over and take a picture before it rose higher in the sky, seemed to shrink, and turned it's typical moon-white color.

The science geek in me wants to explain to you that although the moon appears larger over the horizon this is only an optical illusion of sorts, and that the orange color is due to the light of certain wavelengths (green, blue, etc.) being refracted by particles in the atmosphere.

But what do I know? Maybe this is just the cheddar cheese phase of the moon, and it will turn to mozzarella as it climbs higher through the night!

Special Edition: KU vs. MU Border War (Part 1)

Tonight brought another installation of the Border War (or the "Border Showdown," as it has been redubbed by certain political correctivists), the showdown between Kansas and Missouri Unviersities - this time on the hardwood floor.

Both basketball teams came into the game ranked and sporting impressive Big 12 Conference records. But when the Jayhawks get together with the Tigers records and rankings don't seem to make that much of a difference.

This edition - the first match-up of the basketball teams this year - was played in Columbia, MO, home of the Tigers, where Jayhawk athletes and fans typically do not receive a warm welcome. KU players interviewed before the game admitted they would be wary of possible projectiles hurled from the stands in their direction - rumors persist of players having to dodge everything from spit to hot pennies.

While I say it is just a rumor, the Jayhawk in me knows these harsh accusations of Mizzou fans must be true.

During any KU game away from Allen Fieldhouse (home to KU basketball, where currently the Jayhawks have the nation's longest home winning streak at 37 games) fans that normally pack the stands instead pile into various restaurants, bars, and pretty much anywhere with a television - especially along Mass St. in downtown Lawrence.

Scenes like this one above of the Jayhawk faithful gathered together are pretty typical for an away game. Every television screen will be tuned to the same channel, and while the noise is nothing like a deafening crowd at the Fieldhouse, the fans will be ready to cheer loudly and show their support for the 'Hawks.

The team needed our fan support tonight, but it wasn't quite enough, as somehow Missouri offered up a rather unsightly jumpshot that bounced around and reluctantly fell in the hoop with three seconds left to give the Tigers the lead and, all too shortly thereafter, the win.

Here's hoping Part 2 of the Border War has a more favorable result for the good guys!

Day Thirty-Nine: 31 Flavors

The bar has been raised.

That was the general consensus of all birthday cake admirers who gathered last night in celebration of yours truly's 31st. The cake - unlike anything I've ever seen - was all Emily's doing, from the initial idea to the baking, molding and piecing together of all the parts. She put her background in Baskin-Robbins cake-making to the test...and when she finished - and I was allowed to open my eyes - I was staring at an exact, 100% edible replica of our digital SLR cameras!

This one-of-a-kind model, the EOS "31"D, even included a frosting version of a picture of the two of us placed in the back of the camera as if it were on an actual LCD screen. I would have more pics to show you, but between the cake barely surviving a rocky transport and a table of ravenous friends salivating at the sight of it, the window for picture-taking opportunities was brief.

After more than a month of daily photo snapping I'm used to seeing Emily peeking out from behind a camera - but never a camera like this. It was a complete, wonderful and totally delicious surprise!

And the bar on birthday cake-making has definitely been raised.

Day Thirty-Eight: Shooting Stars

Emily and I went out to dinner last night in Kansas City at the Skies restaurant on top of the Hyatt Regency. The restaurant, which rotates 40-some stories above the Crown Center plaza, is a great place to watch a sunset, see the skyline, and enjoy some great food - all of which we did!

It's also a great place to look for shooting stars, and this photo - taken in the hotel lobby - reminds me of just that. This decoration - alignments of small silver globes suspended from the ceiling in strands on silver chains - provides a unique centerpiece for the foyer (and from the angle above looks like something out of Star Wars).

I like the motion that this picture seems to have as a result of the mix of chains and spheres emanating from the right. I also like that in every globe you can see a reflection of the flash of the camera.

It was a night of good food, good views, good music and good memories, and I'm glad my picture of the day could capture even just a little piece of that.

(Here is the full view of the decoration)

Day Thirty-Seven: Pour Me a Hot One

Take a look, what do you see? A quickly poured beer, perhaps?
How about an unmixed glass of warm milk and honey - a staple of my diet for the past few days while I have been suffering through my first case of laryngitis. Between pounding down this mixed drink (substitute milk with lemon juice for a refreshing change) and several lakes of water each day I am easily the most hydrated that I have ever been (oh, and the sugar rush from the honey is invigorating).

My vocal cords are on a slow and steady mend, but until then I guess I will let my camera do the talking for me!

Day Thirty-Six: Moth to a Flame

I headed out to Kansas City today to run some errands in the "big city," with the intention of capturing a new scene for my picture of the day - the KC skyline, perhaps. In fact, I had the exact spot in mind - the city's WWI Memorial provides a great view that overlooks downtown from a distance (with Union Station, the remodeled train depot, in the foreground).

That particular KC skyline pic is one I had taken before, but never at this time of day (mid-afternoon). The shadows added a new dimension, and I actually had a whole series of photos I thought I would post including pictures of the memorial as well as the downtown skyline.

But then I turned around and saw the sunlight silhouetted in this unlit lamp (a lamp I had also photographed before, but again not at this time of day). At that moment a plane was flying through the sky in the background. After a quick click, I got this picture, which is just as I described - but I can picture it another way: a lit lamp with the trail of a moth shown flying into the light.

I decided to post this picture, even though I really liked the skyline photos, because 1) I thought it was an interesting visual deception, 2) it was a pretty rare opportunity (things had to be timed just right), and 3) the KC skyline will be there to photograph another day.

Oh, but if you do want to check out some of my past photos of KC and other city skylines, you can check them out here. Enjoy!!

Day Thirty-Five: High Wire

Not much to speak of here. Just a telephone pole that caught my eye as I walked out of work today and took in the first cloudless sky I had noticed in quite a while. I like the stained brown pattern of the pole and its contrast against the blue sky.

Day Thirty-Four: Brick Work

East Lawrence is a patchwork of roads, houses, people and lifestyles. Gardens tastefully landscaped with rows of brightly colored flowers are bordered by front yards peculiarly decorated with brightly colored bowling balls. Modern duplexes built close to the turn of the 21st century stand adjacent to decaying houses built shortly after the turn of the 20th. And for a few blocks scattered throughout the neighborhood, overlayed pavement gives way to the brick road underneath.

While the brick roads have their own charm in managing to keep Lawrence feeling like a "small town," they also test the shock support of the cars (and drivers) that happen upon them.

Brick sidewalks also line many East Lawrence blocks, and they, too, come with their own set of hazards for pedestrians, bicyclists, and big-wheelers alike. Here a growing tree root gives an unexpected lift to part of a brick walkway.

Discussion of (re)paving roads and rebuilding sidewalks is met with support from those in the neighborhood who have grown tired of rough rides, chattering teeth, and stubbed toes. Others would like to hold on to the history the pathways represent, not ready to let the charm of East Lawrence "hit the bricks."

DayThirty-Three: All A'Board

The East Lawrence Train Depot doesn't see a lot of action. While the railway is busy during the day with freight hauled on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe lines, the depot only sees a "rush" of out of town guests pull in on the Amtrack twice a day - once before the sun rises (this time of year, at least) and once long after it sets.

So this skateboarder didn't have to worry about being in anybody's way as he used the sidewalk leading to the train tracks as a place to practice some new moves. With a little earlier click of the camera it might have looked like he was jumping right into the bed of the old pick-up passing by. Instead here he is caught mid-flipkick...he landed the jump.

Day Thirty-Two: Patience

Emily and I have been working on training her new 6-month-old puppy Lucy. She's a pretty quick learner, but she also has some (6 month) old habits that are proving hard to break. Just ask my carpet.

Lucy, a yellow lab/golden retriever mix, is a smart girl, and she will no doubt grow into a well-trained, well-behaved, good and loyal friend. She also has a pretty good "role model" in Farley, my 5-year old border collie/black lab bundle of energy.

While Farley is more than ready to revert to puppihood and pillage my living room given the proper catalyst (like his partner in crime, Lucy), he does also have a few good tricks up his collar. (No sleeves on this dog - except at Christmastime when, for one day a year, he wears a ridiculous red sweater that screams pet abuse.)

Here he shows his ability to stare down a quasi-tasty treat without moving a muscle while the photographer fumbles for the best lens to use and the optimal point of focus, oblivious to the look of anticipation in his subject's big brown puppy dog eyes until he finally notices it in the illumination of the successful camera image and gives a celebratory, "Okay!" releasing the canine from the confines of his own obedience.

In short: Good dog, Farley, good dog!