Altoona.

We spent the weekend in Altoona, PA to see Pete race. He did really well and I'll have more photos up as soon as I get them developed.

The Wallet Story.

So, last month when I was out in Seattle visiting my friend, Josef, we were walking up Pike Street in the Capital Hill area when we passed by this shop that sold custom messenger and courrier bags. It was after-hours, so we spent a good few minutes staring into their windows looking at their beautifully made, custom appliqued bags. Something small and red caught my eye in the window. It was a wallet. A wallet that I hoped would be mine someday.

One month and a slew of emails later,



in through the mail comes my CUSTOM MADE randL Wallet made by Jean and Chicka in Seattle.

Turning a new page.

My 35mm Canon SLR has stopped working; there's something up with the electronics in it. My parents had given it to me as a graduation gift when I finished high school. Seeing that I can buy a new body for about $100, there's no point to getting it repaired.

Now, I have some thinking to do about a new camera and where I can put that $100 towards. I know what I want, I just have to come to terms with it and dive in. Be prepared for something spectacular.

Something simple.

I got off work early and walked up to the Hirshhorn.

Passed the WWII Memorial and traced the letters of Oklahoma's name with my finger-tips. Absence, I guess, really does make the heart grow fonder. This is one of the reasons why I'm scared to go back.

Walked around the art museum barefoot for an hour or so.

Art seems to make more sense without shoes on.

And God was a Giant Pixelated Mario.

I'm trying to spend as much time outside as I can this season. I love reading on my back deck and watching the birds in the backyard; laughing at GB as she stares longingly out my bedroom window, doing her cat-chirp when a bird or squirrel catches her bright green eyes.

As I soak up more and more sun, I'm reminded of summer days long-past; photos of my brothers and I, dark tan with scraped elbows and knees, our bikes laid out in the front yard (who needs kickstands?). Playing on our monkey bars at the house in Maryland, the swing-set, jumping from the top of the play fort, we didn't care about our landings. Mom yelling at us, Danny on her hip, telling us to be careful. I think I got a concussion on that playset; knocked myself out and later wandered into the house, nose bleeding, not really knowing what was going on. Think I scared Dad to death.

Fireflies, ladybugs, frogs, earthworms. I've actually caught a few of each so far this summer. Carl thought I was crazy when I showed him a frog I had picked up. They like their chins rubbed.

And now, summer nights with friends, talking about our own adventures and stories "you wouldn't believe." Random dreams only a few would understand; our thoughts on life and books we've read. Boris Pasternak and Vladimir Nabokov, Nintendo and bike helmets and new car radiators; Shiner Bock and bike races, photographs and sudden downpours. Even scraped knees and elbows.

Adding to the Arsenal.

1961 Canonet 19.

I'm taking it out this afternoon to shoot a test roll on my lunch break. It's clean, functions well, and I got it for cheap!

More information on Canon Rangefinders can be found here. They're a good, all around camera-- although this one weighs a ton and a half.


I also recently acquired a Polaroid SX-70 Model 3-- and broke it within 3 hours of having it. Because I'm a genius.