suckin' eggs

most of you who know me (eric) know that California is not where i wanted to live. that being said- i brought our lives here for school- a great school- to do my graduate work. thus far things have been less than stellar for us...aside from the hitchin things have been a dull sort of discomfort in most ways:
the prices are silly high here
people suck
the weather is weird
our new upstairs neighbors are LOUD
and perhaps the biggest issue- school is a letdown

there are a few professors at the school that i came here to work with...
aside from them, the whole institute lacks professionalism, drive to attain something higher, and the nepotistic stance in hiring baffles me...really- why should i care when it seems the school doesn't?

today was the topping of the crap sundae...
seems the new woman running the darkroom (not a photographer at all) felt the need to scold me for not playing well with the staff about the poor state of equipment in the grad darkroom. i was then informed that it was a privilege to work in sub-par surroundings and that if there was no money to fix thing then it was too bad...
at least the digital labs get new computers and printers every so often.

i regret coming to this school more each week

i have learned

i have fought to work

i feel like the debt is far outweighing the experience of grad school

i wonder if PennState would take me back?

think twice about graduate schools...especially ones that ride on what has been done and not what they can help you do...

Run turned fun

Encouragement and confidence cannot be underestimated. E was right... two years ago, about this time of year, as I was beginning another semester and had agreed to assist in ART 111 at Penn State, I would have never guessed that by this time I would finish my first 5K. I don't even like running! Yet, as the year has pressed on...being in an urban setting that doesn't lend itself to many "outdoor" activities...I have taken to running. It began EXCEPTIONALLY slowly... building up from 5 to 10 to eventually 50 minute runs. Finally, I surpassed the mark I set for myself when I would try a 5K for the first time. I found one...and it turned out to be the best possible introduction to running in groups. It was a "Fun Run" that benefited a local arts program for children, and it was amazingly laid-back. Everyone took it for what it was...a fun run. Groups broke off and paced at a speed that was comfortable, and when we all gathered back at the running store... there were beers and cupcakes and rice crispy treats... awesome. ANDDDDDDDD.... raffle prizes. We won a new back pack! Crazy, right? $20 for two super nice t-shirts, a back pack...and beer? Who could resist?!?! So, I ran faster than I usually do...went up more hills (including the Chestnut stairs...yeah in SF several streets become too steep to even allow reasonable pavement options, thus the streets into staircases...and the Fort Mason hill) totaling 282 ft (yeah nothing on a bike but on foot??? and at once??? whew...). So, yeah...E came with me, met me at the end and ran the last bit (again) with me, and was just there. Amazing what just his presence encourages me to do.

Red-faced and finished...

Mouthfull of cupcakes and beer... a maybe a little on that beard...

Urban adventures

So, we're (that's Pep and myself) down to counting days now. That's right! It's only 11 days...That's less than two weeks, and E will be home! Back to the coffee-making, dog-walking mornings...the Chinatown eats...the consumer-related but non-consumer activities...oh so soon.

In the meantime, though, Leah came to SF for a post-Yosemite visit and totally made the week fly by. Her first few days here might have been restful, but as soon as I had the day off, I drug the poor girl on foot all over the Haight, Castro, Mission and SoMa. Yeah, I forgot that Market Street runs diagonally to the grid...how? I couldn't say...but we ended up about 15 blocks out of the way. Still, she got a good taste of what SF could be--that is, better on a bike! Oh, but I forget...the day before we opened the newly built Academy of Sciences...and practically closed it down. We wanted to be sure to get the coveted passes to the planetarium (the big ticket on my wish list for the day--space geek) and to make it into the reconstructed rainforest with the least painful line-waiting experience (Leah's big ticket on the wish list--bird geek); so, we got there just as the doors were opening that morning. Like veterans, we got the passes and walked right over to the rainforest and barely waited at all. Still, can't say that she wasn't chomping at the bit to get inside that ball of misty humidity! Check it... I thought she might push the little boys in front of us over!! ha ha...naw just kidding...but she was serious despite that deceptive calm look.



So, while Leah took to the birds and id'ing species...I took to the building. Pretty stinking cool. I have to give big props to ol' Renzo Piano for this one. Those tectonics (structure not plate) really paid off big time in this beauty.



This elegantly, swerving ramp glided up through the rainforest from the floor of the "forest" through the canopy. The end of the journey was a magic elevator ride down below the water into the aquarium. I don't know about the kids there...but I was about to pee my pants. This was exceptionally awesome.



And at one point we actually found time to head up to the living roof that is planted with native California wildflowers and grasses and undulates into seven peaks (recalling the mythic "seven peaks of San Francisco") that open to ventilate the spaces below. The two largest "hills" stretch over the domes of the planetarium and the rainforest spheres. She ain't so super-sly... those turtles totally saw her!

Then, on Leah's last day here...we headed north to the Headlands and Point Reyes. We trekked it all the way up to the point first where we caught some awesome views of dive-bombing pelicans and swarming elephant seals as well as the flush of birds that were feeding in the tidal flats and marshes along the way there. We even slammed on the brakes and caught a super close view of a turkey vulture on a post. Whoa... those suckers are big and ugly! Then we worked our way back south a little into the Marin Watershed (the only legal place Pep can roam...) for a not-so-quick, quick hike.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this area is the diversity and intensely wild plants that have no precedent in my working knowledge of the Mississippi delta and east of the Mississippi wildernesses. Every view is new and bizarre and well... just wild.


So, this type of tree, I realized in this different season is the same "butterscotch" trees that E and I saw on a hike back on a wet day in February. Here they're peeling and not plastic at all...but more nearly geometric...

And, thanks to Leah, I know that this lovely, delicate tree is a Hemlock (we decided it is not known to either of us if this the "hemlock" legendary to the end of Socrates). I especially loved their reaches and wispy folds that caught the sunlight.

And, all I got to say to this unidentified species is... The feather's magical! You CAN fly!!!

Rebel dog...swimming in the watershed reservoir... naughty but super cool. You can't blame a hot dog for heading toward those blue, blue waters!


And, the drive back along Hwy 1 down the coast proved to be just as different as it is every time. you can never tell how the fog will roll in... but here the ocean the sky fade together... it was quite ethereal... cheers to an urban-adventure-packed week to follow that real wilderness-packed week, Leah! good times :)

See more pics on Facebook...tried to keep this post somewhat calm... not so great at that...

morning reflection

more colors- less comments

More exploration of color in my little life here in Maine...I know you all held back your comments and I thank you (sarcasm)

really- is anyone really even looking?

e

Oh Oh Bee

so- working with the kids in the young digital photographers class is fun- they challenge my music, make me feel old, and are the impetus for our trips around the state of Maine. The recent acquisition of a digital camera should make my posts a bit better than the usual bitching about this and that.

Here are my images from Old Orchard Beach Maine- also known as O.O.B. to those of us in the know....

enjoy- comment- what ever...

Moments from Maine

Talking everyday may shorten the distance from E. Still, the phone pales in comparison to being near him, really talking to him and hearing him. I can hardly contain my excitement that he found an awesome deal on a digital camera this week...and got it! (yeah, I'm "outting" you, E!) Film or digital...his images are always a part of him. And, him sending those images to me are like little pieces of him--the beautiful things that I miss about him. So, I'm sharing these "notes"... they are moments...they're as close as I can be for another 29 days.