Image for 6-19-11 - My First Haircut

I am down in Mississippi visiting my Dad and Step Mom. It's always strange for me to be down here because, despite the fact that my Father is from here, I feel no connection. The Weaver side of the family has lived in Eastern Mississippi for generations. My Dad broke that chain when he went into the Navy and left the sweltering, kudzoo-covered life down here to see the world. He eventually came back home, but none of his children have ever followed him here.

My Dad's living room is filled with pictures of his kids, grandkids and Betty, my Step Mom's children. I found this photo of my older sister and me taken when I was about one or so. My Dad told me that it was taken shortly after I had my first haircut given to me by a barber that had cut my Dad's hair, his Dad's hair and his Dad's hair. Four generations of Weaver hair had fallen under this guy's scissors. I wish I had a photo of him.

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Mountain Sky

On the road, heading to Mississippi.
--Sent from my Virgin Mobile!
Location : lat=35.658, lng=-81.993


--
Sent from my Virgin Mobile

Image for June 17, 2011 - Making a Mark

This leaf is long gone, but it left it's mark on the world. It's shape endures for now etched into this strip of white crosswalk paint. Whenever I walk over to the mailbox here at work, I pass this leaf silhouette and it always brings my mind around to how brief our time is on this planet and how will anyone know we were here. Leaving one's mark has been a motivator to people in all walks of life since cave people took up a charred stick and drew on a cave wall. Some people leave their mark through their children and families, some through their creative pursuits. Some people don't care or feel it's out of their reach to make any meaningful impact on the world. Whether we chose to or not, we are all affecting the world and the people around us for good or for ill, mostly in ways that we'll never know or understand. I've been making a conscious effort to bring art into my life more, both in reality and online. I've also been trying to encourage people, friends and strangers to create art, write, make music, exercise that creative passion too. Make that mark. You never know who will eventually see it and what it will mean to their life.

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Image for 6-15-11 - Potatoes in a Bag

Do you love potatoes? I sure do and I never thought I could grow'em myself until I heard about the garbage bag method. For those of us that are "gardening challenged" or have limited space or resources, this is a great way to easily grow some yummy taters. This is my second attempt, last year was a practice run, but this year the leafy gods have smiled upon me. When I lived in Ireland, I learned that home grown taters taste mush better then store bought. I can't wait to harvest these dogs in a couple of months.

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Stuck at the tunnel again

Nothing like commuting in Tidewater to bum you out. I was sitting for thirty-five minutes waiting for a multi-car accident to be cleared. Sometimes it's easier for me to relax and let go, but tonight I had somewhere to be, so the pressure was on. I look forward to the day when I no longer have to make that drive.

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Location : lat=37.000, lng=-76.312

Image for 6-12-11 - Stormy Pattern

Lately, we have been experiencing some amazingly severe storms. They can pop-up on short notice and dump a huge amount of rain and whip up a fierce wind. We need the rain, but not the heavy action. With all the tornados and floods going on across the country, it feels like mother nature has got an attitude problem. The storms do make for some dramatic skies.

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Image for 6-11-11 - Neighborhood Parade

On my hike today, I stumbled upon the Civic League's annual parade and picnic. It wasn't very long, but it looked like a lot of fun. I had forgotten completely about it, so it was a fun surprise to come around the corner and run into festivities. Maybe next year, I'll have to enter my own float. Hmmm....

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Image for 6-10-11 - 21st Century Haunted House

Remember when you were a kid, there was always one old derelict house in the neighborhood that everyone just knew was haunted. Well I don't know if this place is haunted, but it sure is derelict. It was born that way, abandoned midway in construction about a year and a half ago for unknown reasons, though I did hear a rumor that it wasn't properly constructed and water got in. As these stories often go, the building contractor went bankrupt and the owner has been in limbo. Now the teenagers and bums break in from time-to-time and someone comes around and fixes the big, plywood door and puts a bigger lock on it. Too bad it wasn't completed as it's an interesting design compared to the usual bland crap that is thrown up in Virginia Beach. It is a ghost of sorts, a constant haunting reminder of the shitty economy (as if we need another one). It would make a cool super villain's lair. Dah

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Image for 6-8-11 - Colin

This is my friend Colin Martin. We've been friends ever since we met at a Dr. Madblood (local TV horror movie host) mini-convention in the summer of 1978. We were young, geeky teenagers then, now we're geeky, middle-aged guys marveling at the speed of time and life. Colin and I have been through a lot; were roommates for a time; spent an action-packed month riding buses across Mexico back in the late 1980s; have made a few short movies together; have spilled our share of wine. We drifted apart for awhile as adults, but now are reconnected. It's good to have old friends in your life that have witnessed a huge arc of your history, and you theirs. Share the memories of late night horror movies and junk food and a million laughs. I'm lucky with Colin though, because there's much more that binds us together then just nostalgia. There's a lot left to our conversation and we got more good times to come. To the future!

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Image for 6-7-11 - A New Tradition

Hello and welcome to my blog. Do you like to read "the words" and look at what we call "the pictures"? Then you, my friend, have clicked on the right link.

Sorry, lost my mind for a second. Actually, decided to start a new tradition of posting a self-portrait on my birthday, which is today, so here it is. Yes, I have a large, some say, giant head. I live with it and so should you.

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Image for 6-6-11 - The Trunk

On the commute home, I found myself behind an antique car, a lovely old thing, obviously well-loved by it's owner. I focused in on the big, black trunk hanging off the back of the car and experienced a mini-epiphany. Trunk! A car trunk was at one time an actual trunk! Wow. What can I say. I'm easily amused.

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Image for 6-4-11 - Carving Finished!

I have finished carving my first wood sculpture! Hooray! I still need to stain him, so he's not quite one hundred percent done. For a first effort I'm pleased with how it came out. Just a little fish, no big whoop, but I enjoyed the process. It was good to get the hands moving again. Certainly is my most natural state to be creating something. I'm not going to speculate on what's next or make any big plans, just want to keep making things and having fun for now.

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Image for June 3, 2011 - Friday Drive Home

I was very glad that today was Friday. Not that anything particularly bad happened this week. I was just ready to be free for a couple of days. June third is a good day, if only because it is the birthday of my niece Windy and two good friends, Neil Bruce and Bernadette Kinlaw. I have lots of friends and family with birthdays this month. Makes me wonder what was so special about nine months ago. This image was just a random shot I took by laying my camera on the dashboard and shooting straight up. No mind, floating, randomness. Good way to start the weekend.

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