a photo day: March 8, 2011

I'm trying to get out and shoot when I feel so inspired. I think it's important to step outside your comfort zone once -in-a-while. and just DO. How will I get better at photography if I don't practice?

This is me practicing. :) I have thought about doing the "photo every day" -thing only to find that when I put the pressure on myself for something I enjoy doing, it takes the fun out of it because my head isn't in it. So...I'm doing it my way.

Tomato...

Still counting...

A friend wrote to me saying he was tired of so much prose and so little verse. Here's a bit of verse for you, William. [an attempt anyway]

Still counting

When the match strikes, I hear the burn
It's bright, it's fast
For a relationship similar, I do not yearn

To consume and to be so brief
without passion, without affection
A relationship without love and laughter, will soon end in grief

Inhale deep through the nose
feel the air, feel it's volume
Your relationship does the same as it grows

Countless heavy sighs to calm, to clear
brings calm, brings strength
My relationship too, can comfort a fear.

Moonlit Hike and Charity Items

This Sunday is the last collection day for charitable items for Coats For Kids and the Geauga County Dog Shelter that Brad and I are organizing.

We will be in the parking lot before the Moonlight Hike on Sunday evening gathering gently worn or new coats and jackets for the kids (all sizes) as well as items for the dog shelter (see list below).

We would LOVE to have you join in on the hike as well, if you like. There will be a campfire afterwards that Brad was kind enough to set up for us to have and nibblies will be on hand too. Thank you, Brad!
(someone said something about Whiskey and Bourbon Balls...I'm in!)

For details on the hike click here.

ITEMS FOR DOG SHELTER
-- gently used blankets (or new!), sheets, towels
-- canned/dry dog food, treats
-- laundry detergent, bleach
-- paper towels
-- leashes, collars
-- medical supplies

If you are unable to come to the parking lot before the hike to drop off items let me know and we can make arrangements or you're welcome to drop them off at my house. Let me know.

Thank you...on behalf of the Kids and the Pups!

Happy Holidays!

It's a gorgeous day in Cleveland

Good morning, Cleveland!

Hm...well, what to say about last nights game. Great start, ok middle and quiet ending. 

The fans acted like adults, thank God...no one stormed the court during the game and nothing major happened. 

Today, is a fresh light coat of snow, sunny day in Cleveland. The start of another CLE chapter. Last night was the closing of a chapter and a much needed one. I personally haven't but I think some are wasting too much time dwelling on LeBron's "decision." Yeah...I'm over it. Why waste energy on that. I've got better things to do. Like root for the guys that ARE here so we can have some fun and amazing games. 

GO CAVS!

drama, drama, drama

Tonight. 8 pm, The Cleveland Cavaliers play the Miami Heat.

All of CLE is a-buzz about the game. I wish I could go! But I've had this date on my calendar since "The Decision" wanting to see how it all unfolds. 

Still very disappointed in LeBron and his "Decision" but actually...more so about the way he went about it (I get it...it's business but here in CLE, we care a lot about our players).

Whatever, LeBron. We've moved on (most of us). But I want to see if it's going to be just a game or perhaps a really good game. After all, they aren't robots out on that court, they're people...with emotion. Which could bring an intense game. Hopefully it's a good clean fun game.

No soap-opera's on court, please. 

Go Cavs!

Giving back this holiday season....

Hi everyone!

My cohort-in-crime (Brad!) and I are organizing a way to give to the people AND the pets of Northeastern Ohio this year. Announcements will go out to friends, family, and to the two Meetup.com groups we belong to (Northeastern Ohio Adventurers and Northeastern Ohio Hiking Group). Anyone can donate items. We'll be more than happy to take them to the designated areas for you. Brad and I are trying to make this simple so more people can give.

The two groups we have decided to focus on this year are Coats For Kids and The Geauga County Dog Shelter. They are always in need of help and what better time to give!

On Sunday, Dec 19th we will be at the South Chagrin Reservation parking lot from 3–5 pm. The moonlight hike starts at 5:30 pm for those in the Adventure group. The Shelterhouse Picnic Area is located off Hawthorn Parkway in South Chagrin Reservation, east of SOM Center Road/Route 91 in Bentleyville.

After collecting goods from anyone and everyone that can donate to these two worthy organizations we will deliver them to the shelter and Coats For Kids drop off centers for you.

Here are some details to donating...

COATS FOR KIDS

"The challenging economy, combined with the fast-approaching Northeast Ohio winter weather,makes the need for warm coats for children in our community higher than it has ever been before,”says Debbie Martinko, executive director, Coats for Kids.

Drop off a new or gently used coat and it will be given to a girl or boy from a disadvantaged family here in the area.

You can also make a monetary donation on their site. Click here to find out how.

GEAUGA COUNTY DOG SHELTER

Maybe you love dogs and want to help those in need but cannot adopt a furry, four-legged companion right now. This is a great way to show you care. Here is a list of items the shelter needs....

• gently used blankets (or new!), sheets, towels
• canned/dry dog food, treats
• laundry detergent, bleach
• paper towels
• leashes, collars
• medical supplies
• office supplies, printer cartridges (HP 22 tri-color, HP 21 black), printer paper, fine-tip dry erase markers

Contact the shelter directly to inquire about becoming a volunteer, foster family or monetary donations.

Thank you on behalf of Coats For Kids and The Geauga County Dog Shelter!

Popovers to die for!

This recipe is SO easy and so yummy. I highly recommend using the suggested substitutions to lower fat and cholesterol.

Time: 1 hr 10 min
Servings: 12 popovers

1.5 cups flour (Suggested, 3/4 c all-purpose flour, 3/4 c whole wheat flour)
3/4 tsp salt
3 large eggs (suggested, 2 yolks, 4 egg whites)
1.5 cups milk (suggested, fat-free...trust me...it's still amazing)

In large bowl, mix flour and salt; make a well in center. In another bowl, beat eggs and milk, then pour into well. Gradually stir egg mixture into flour/salt until batter is the consistency of heavy cream yet slightly lumpy; do not overbeat. Allow batter to rest for about 30 mins to an hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place 1 tsp butter in each cup of a 12-cup muffin tin or two 6-cup popover tin (suggested use very little or none to reduce fat/chol). Heat in oven until butter melts...about a min. Divide batter among cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20 mins.

Turn out popovers,serve immediately. And take a picture because they are so gorgeously yummy and huge when they come out of the oven...but the height doesn't last long (this is normal).

Grab some butter, honey and/or jam and enjoy!

(pict...mini popovers!!!)

We'll see him again...

I've caught a couple episodes of America's Got Talent recently. If you haven't seen it, don't worry, you're not missing a lot. Except the rare talent that finds it's way on-stage.

I'd like to shed light on one such talent. Michael Grimm

He has an amazing voice. He's humble. He's grateful. He's giving.
I'm sure we'll see more of him.



Go, Michael!

Please Stay, LeBron!

I just saw the best thing ever... 

In the fight for the basketball star LeBron James, Cleveland fans have staged an aggressive, heartfelt video campaign using songs like "We Are LeBron," sung to the tune of "We Are the World." 

Not to be outdone, New York City is getting into the multimedia game by producing videos to lure him east. see video here


And although I live in NYC, I want to see LeBron stay in Cleveland (heart is where your family is [Cleveland for me]). They deserve each other. LeBron seems like an upstanding, hard working guy...just like Cleveland. 

Besides, the Knicks stink. And yes, they know it. 


CLEVELAND ROCKS!!!!


hugs n kisses, Cleveland.
mmmmmmmwah!

Planet Green...

I am a HUGE fan of Planet Green. It's by the Discovery Channel (another fav).

Planet Green recently showed photos by a photographer who gets within feet (!!) of whales and oh..my...god...these photos are amazing! As far as I'm concerned, when someone is SO good at what they do that inspires you to want to do it too, is a feat that should be bottled and sold!

This photographer is that good.

Check them out...

Photographer: Bryant Austin

A quiet Chicago afternoon...

Here I sit in a coffee house in Chicago hitting a couple of my favorite places before I go to another hotel that's far from the city.

The coffee is good. The cinnamon roll I got was ok. As soon as I saw it I remembered my Mom telling me about a place here that has amazing cinnamon rolls. I assured her I would not go looking for the place. Alas...I found this one. Dang.


The one place that was on my list to go to is this amazing store in the Gold Coast area of Chicago. It's called P.O.S.H. I first went there last year with my sister and Mom. I was instantly in love.

They carry "flea-market chic" finds, unique antique styled wares and home-goods. Books. Maps (I love cool old looking maps...I bought one for Rome this visit). And more. A wonderfully European-style boutique. 

I spoke with the gentleman behind the counter who was nothing if not terribly nice, he was Karl Sorensen. He helped me find the map I was looking for and we chatted a bit. The store was filling up with customers while I was there going through all it had to offer while I searched for that one thing I felt I had to have, the one thing I felt someone else would love and then those same things that I had to figure out how to get back to NYC in my bag which was already full. (wow that was a long sentence). I left with only the map.

Should you find yourself in the heart of one of my favorite cities, Chicago....I highly recommend a visit to this great store.

Here is a pict of an item I thought long and hard about. They would have gone SO well in my Brooklyn apt. Unfortunately I couldn't get them. But should I change my mind....

Vintage Wooden Tops

Not just any tea...

For the record...I love coffee. I love the way it smells. I love the smooth and warm sensation that runs down my throat and into my chest when I sip it. It's what I look forward to every morning and what I enjoy on weekend mornings when the sun is coming up.

That being said, every evening since I can remember, I've had a cup of tea. It too is so soothing. All different types. Last time I went to Chicago I stayed in a nice hotel downtown. It was an exhausting day so all I wanted to do was draw a bath and have a cup of tea and fall asleep to a movie.

I called down to the desk and they brought me up three different types (kinds) of tea, all being Mighty Leaf Teas. I'd heard of the brand but never had it. Didn't give it much thought to be honest. But as soon as I opened the bag to make the tea an amazing aroma spilled from the packet.

The tea was in a little "sack" that let the tea leaves flow more freely in the hot water. It smelled good and was a fantastic and soothing cup of tea.

Bottom line, I HIGHLY recommend it. I came across a couple packs the other day again and remembered how much I like it. So...that's my latest recommendation on something that I found truly yummy.

My fav is the Orange African Nectar. Although I haven't tried them all, yet. You'll notice the difference if you like tea.

Enjoy.

Getting a haircut?

I'm sure you've heard...there's been a bit of a spill off the coast of Louisana. Ok...a HUGE spill, can you say "Exxon Valdez"?

A San Francisco-based nonprofit group, Matter of Trust, came up with an idea of collecting hair, and even pet fur, putting it into nylons to create "tubes" and help aid in the oil spill clean-up. As you know, hair absorbs oil. The nylons will be placed in the oil ridden water to help absorb the oil. I heard the plan was that BP would take care of the tubes after they've been soaked with the oil in the water with possible incineration. I think that sounds like a great plan. Any help is good help. This is a huge mess.

The hair can be donated. The group is called Matter of Trust. Please note that the plan is not authorized by the government, yet. But I'm crossing my fingers. It's my understanding that a 15-chain store has become active in the effort...PR at Partners, headed by Jacqui Davis. I commend her efforts!

See what you can do today. Stay informed.

sources:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/08/problem-for-containment-dome-in-gulf/?hp
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050704893.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-gulf-oil-spill,0,1622568.story

Etsy Shout-Out

Last August I bought a custom necklace from one9designs. Kristin was fabulous to work with!

My necklace I had made with the first letter of the name of each of my family members (7 in total). Each letter was on a small leaf floating on the chain. I love it and have gotten many compliments on it. I showed it to my family when I went home to visit (Cleveland) and my sister wanted one too. Last month I ordered her the same necklace, same letters, same leaves.

She loves her necklace. As do I mine.

Thank you, Kristin for your creativity and professionalism. You rock. :)

You can find one9design by clicking here.

40th Anniversary of Earth Day: April 22, 2010

Our home. Our life. Our future.

Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. While climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, it also presents the greatest opportunity––an unprecedented opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean energy economy now and for the future.

Here's how you can take action today:

Sign the Earth Day 2010 Climate Declaration

While great progress has been made since, today brings new challenges posed by climate change and an addiction to fossil fuels. To address these threats, we must fundamentally change the way we innovate, produce and consume. This simply will not happen until Congress passes a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill to rebuild our economy, secure energy independence, and address the climate crisis. 

From Oceana:
7 tips and ways to make a difference.


Earth Justice:
Because the earth needs a good lawyer.

The Climate Rally

On Sunday, April 25th, Earth Day Network and partner organizations will organize a massive climate rally on The National Mall to demand that Congress pass a strong climate bill in 2010.

Be heard - Join us for the Climate Rally

Join Us

Sign the Earth Day 2010 Climate Declaration

Join the Revolution - sign the Earth Day 2010 Climate Declaration to demand a comprehensive climate bill from Congress
Sign Now

Education

Environmental education and outdoor play is important for our children’s personal and academic growth. With students now spending 90% of their time indoors, “nature deficit disorder” is on the rise. A recent study found that children spend less than four minutes a day in “unstructured outdoor play.” This secluded lifestyle is causing emotional, educational, and physical consequences, including obesity. Plan an Earth Day activity with your school and register for our free online Educators’ Network at earthday.org/education to receive environmental education curricula and other resources.

Watch and be amazed:

On DVD: Planet Earth is a 2006 television series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit. Five years in the making. The series was co-produced by the Discovery Channel and NHK in association with CBC, and was described by its makers as "the definitive look at the diversity of our planet".

The series comprises eleven episodes, each of which features a global overview of a different habitat on Earth. At the end of each fifty-minute episode, a ten-minute featurette takes a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of filming the series. [information provided by Wikipedia]

In our town:

Brooklyn, NY

Week long events.

Earth Day Expo at Habana Outpost

Manhattan, NY
TimeOutNYC has a full page of ideas, click here

E-Campaign

Cleveland, OH

EarthFest 2010  at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

It was Destiny...

Last week I treated myself to a facial. Through Yipit/KGB I purchased a great deal to visit the spa Destiny on Lexington Ave (NYC).

I've purchased many coupons for discounted services, dance lessons, etc etc through Groupon before but had not yet tried Yipit/KGB.

I called Destiny and they were able to work me into their schedule the very next evening. Upon my arrival I was greeted by a very welcoming receptionist, and offered a beverage. Shortly after the esthetician and owner of the spa came by to greet me while I filled out a very simple form.

I've bought coupons to other spas in the past and left feeling I was jipped even out of my discounted rate service. Horrible.

THIS spa however, was a very different story. They were pleasant from the moment I called to make the appt until the time I walked out the door. I would go back to them in a heartbeat.

Destiny, Beauty & Wellness Day Spa
794 Lexington Ave, NY NY 10065
212 832 0431
www.destinyspanyc.com

Get your skin over there for a special day of luxury and pampering. It's worth it.

practice, practice, practice

No, this is not a story about how one should practice to the point of nausia to succeed.

It's just plain ole funny and I had to share it. Enjoy!
[written by ECHOWOOD on YesButNoButYes.com]

It was one of those things to check off the list. I was sure sleeping with Charlize Theron wasn't ever going to happen, nor was climbing Mount Everest due to my paralyzing fear of Tibetans. But the one item I had a shot at was playing Carnegie Hall. While I wouldn't consider myself an accomplished pianist, nor would I place myself in the camp of "musician", I know my way around the ivories enough to get by. So when my friend Mitch asked me to help him write and perform a song at Carnegie Hall, I figured it would be my one and only chance to say I'd played that hallowed hall.

And this was my first mistake.

read on...

Press on...

These days leave me thinking, pondering, hoping and planning more than ever before. I am not of great wealth. My job ended in late Sept of last year and I have been working tirelessly to pull down any sort of design related work I can find. The hopes of a job offered was dashed when a last minute hiring freeze took place just after the offer was extended. 3 months of preparing for that job lost. Back to square one. Hundreds of resumes, countless bids, too many people going after the same jobs.

My thoughts on the economy these days are dark. I do not quite see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. Yet. We have a new president in office who has quite a load on his shoulders. I feel for him although I also feel good about him being in office. I am hopeful. It's more than one person can fix.

Signs of this wretched economy we've created are everywhere. I am acutely aware of it on a daily basis and it even haunts my dreams. I have always been very independent and enjoyed freelance/sole proprietorship and these days I am glad to have so much experience in this field as I feel it's my only source of reliance. The one thing I know I can count on is me. Not to exclude my friends and family but in the job sense and making it happen for me. Jobs offered, jobs taken away. Freelance is a tough road and you have to really want it. I love what I do although I went a few years of complete boredom with it. But it's a part of me and there is no sense in fighting it. So, I now try to relish it as I did years ago and work with what comes natural to me.

Not long ago I worked for a photographer, Melanie Acevedo. She does fantastic work and I was glad to have met her and her family. She was worked with some amazing magazines doing shoots all over the world. In the latter days of my working in her office we found out that House & Garden, a very well respected and developed magazine was closing (a Condé Nast publication). It was a sad day for many not only in the photography business but those that enjoyed all H&G brought into their lives. It was a wonderful magazine.

A bit of time has gone by and I come to find that another Condé Nast publication, Domino, is also closing it's doors. This was a magazine I read often and encouraged others like me to read as I knew they'd enjoy it. I'm very sad to see it go. Yes, it's just a magazine and no, I don't know anyone other than Melanie (who also shot for Domino) who is directly affected by this event but it's another sign of the pieces crumbling around us.

I watch the market everyday. It's scary to watch the numbers go down. I feel elated when I see a company I know of doing well. I see it's a rare sight. Some feel the pinch of the market more than others. Although I'm being generous with term "pinch" as for many of us, it's quite a bit more than that. And not quite as quick.

Greed, laziness and sheer ignorance are a few of the characteristics that I feel have brought us here. This is horrible but...I have to believe that it will act as a cleansing. Perhaps purging that which needed to be done but many just chose to ignore as that was the easier path, some hoping "it will just go away on it's own" and thus, a monster was created. Many are carrying the burden for those that should be doing it themselves and fixing the problems or dealing with the consequences. I will not name names (or companies).

Please pardon a rant but I just want to tell these companies to deal with the problems they've created and stop whining. Grab you own damn bootstraps and work it out as best you can like the rest of us are. If you fail, at least you failed trying to fix the problem. Not just asking for "Mommy & Daddy" to fix it when it's gone well beyond an easy fix and now others have to pay for your lack of good business practices. Do you see individuals asking for bailouts? I'm tempted to write to President Obama myself and ask his opinion on this. I'd feel his answer would truly be an interesting one. Actually, there is a list of people from which I'd love to hear the answer to that. Some were indulged a bit too much and now expect someone/everyone else to pick up their pieces. I'm trying to pick up my own pieces I cannot spare an ounce of pity for those that don't try to help themselves or ask for the help when things have gotten SO bad, are given it and then it's squandered away.

I have always enjoyed working with small businesses and watching them grow. I enjoy being a part of that and hope to continue to do so. Now more than ever I want to see the little guy make it. For I am one of the "little guys" and I know how it feels. I'm not opposed to big business but often those big businesses started from something small. I try to shop locally to help out the neighborhood where I live. I try to keep my business expenses within the U.S. whenever possible and thus far that has gone quite well. I'd rather spend a few more bucks keeping small businesses alive and well here than elsewhere as we need it too.

The U.S.A. could use some TLC right now. We need to not only look out to help our neighbors around the world but also not forget to take care of our own home too. All that works best does so from a strong foundation. And when you have a nation whose base is fragile (crumbling) and needs attention, how can we expect to help others?

How can one expect to make others happy when we ourselves are not?
When flying one of the first things they do is tell you the safety plans should something happen. They say that you must put your own oxygen mask on first so as to be able to help others. It's true, how can one expect others to live when we are gasping for air and have not the energy nor ability to do it ourselves?

I could go on. But enough said.

We must work hard. Think outside the box. Help others if we can. And truly make smart decisions. We are not done with these hard times. They are going to get worse I fear and it will not be a quick fix. But in order to make it happen, we have to keep ourselves strong and work together.

If you'd read this far, thank you for doing so.

Make your bright future as best you can. Try hard. Never give up. Make smart decisions. This is not a time for rashness.

"Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." - Calvin Coolidge 1872

Thank you, Dad for giving me this tiny piece of paper with this quote on it so many years ago. I take it with me everywhere I go.

a picture says it all

One word comes to mind when I saw this poor, pathetic bike (what was left of it) locked to a post on the sidewalk.....lazy.

Music, more music, fresh bread, fresh fruit and fish with the heads still on...

[To preface this post I want to mention that I'm doing a full-year exercise on photo-taking. It's simply to take one photo a day. Most will be snapshots. There's more to it but pretty much it means you will all be seeing lots of random pix throughout 2009. Some of you know I've been pretty busy with work, getting work, keeping work and so on so I'm a bit distracted and might miss a day or two here and there. However, I will make up for it. It is an exercise after all.]

Friday I went to see I think it was 6 bands play at the Tribeca location 92St Y. We missed the first band, caught the 2nd, wished me'd missed that one but the rest of the bands were interesting and fun to watch. A friend of my friend was playing, Hazmat Modine. Ive seen them play before and it's quite a show. Many things going on but the music is tight, varied and fun to watch. As I'm a bit of a fan of gypsy-type music and Slavic Soul Party was the closer and they had a singer with them who was not present last I saw them. I have no idea what she was saying as I think it was in Russian (??) but it sure did sound killer. Here are some pix.


Of course, Rockband plays a role in many of my weekends with my best bud. Good thing he lives alone. (You know who you are...big hugs)

Woke up late to enjoy a mellow morning of coffee, fresh bread (literally!) and fresh fruit. I love doing that.

Sat eve I made an apple pie from some of the best apples around in Long Island where we went to his parents house for dinner (fish w/fish heads, yes, it was delicious). I haven't made an apple pie in a LONG time but it turned out pretty well. It was accompanied by homemade vanilla ice cream and trust me when I say that it was even better than it sounds! Huge nummers on that one! I'd love to take the credit but it was all someone elses patience and time. Sorry, no pie pix...didn't think of it! If you want the recipe, let me know.

Once back in the city there was a blanket of snow on everything. It was stunning. We went through Central Park in the evening in the snow, through the Ramble. Very pretty. Very quiet. The best way to do it. The sky was pink through the trees, the snow softly crunched beneath our feet, water tripped on rocks and people walked by silently enjoying the peace and quiet not heard too often in the city. Here are some pix...



Sunday was a blur except for more Rockband, yes, we Rock! Monday...back to work.