Drum roll please.....

OK, so Gretta is gonna let me write for a change....thanks lady! So we spent way too long out in the East Bay looking at used (and often whupped to within an inch of death) cars. Being more of a redneck son of a jet engine mechanic I couldn't help but fish around to find all the things wrong with cars in our modest budgetary constraints.

just purchased....Gretta is way too excited and I am executing one hell of a "gas face"...feel the love? Mmmmm

"I'm tired but still "Pepper!"...is this our new truck? We couldn't afford something bigger? A rear window? Slackers....i'm pepper...what ever..."

So- being out in the west (I have a feeling that the truck may have been from the desert states)...there is NO RUST on this tired old thing!!!!
Assuming this truck makes it to where ever we end up (central PA? Hmmm) I have a feeling it will be worth putting cash into...God I hope it makes it out of here!

OK...sooooo
We are burning fossil fuels again and must now return from the lofty heights of our high horse...
The truck sounds like crap and needs a new muffler...
Gretta is giddy with our new purchase...
I may get out to photograph the landscape much more often...
and if I clean the apartment and fix dinner Gretta may let me write on the blog more often...
later suckas!!!!
e

Sometimes visitors make this place feel a bit more like home

So, it may have been awhile...but on our behalf, much has been going down this side of the Rockies (would have said Mississippi...but my folks in AR would have to say the same).

But speaking of Arkansans... three of our favorites--Mom (Ann), Kevin, and Shannon--were just here for my birthday! (Dad's not big on cities. If St. Louis gets to him, we couldn't imagine what SF would do!) It was their first time in California, and thus, SF. And, I must say, showing them around proved to us that this place isn't so ugly...Well, I guess we never said it was ugly, but it's hard to see past most people to find the beauty here. Regardless, showing Mom, Kevin and Shannon around revealed to us that over the past year and half we have found some pretty sweet spots that we truly enjoy.

We took them to Chinatown of course. But, no one was game for our Pho experience! We went instead for some awesome food in Little Italy where we chowed on pasta, ravioli and lasagna. Mmmmmmmm.... We took them to see all the cool views that we've found around town, dragged them through the forests of Marin County where we escape to pretty often, out to the coast at night to see the huge winter waves. We even picked up some super yum food from a taqueria in the Mission. Kevin was schooled in what a hipster is... I think he can solidly say now that "now, this is truly a hipster..." or "that kid wants to be a hipster but looks too ____ (insert boyish or girlish here--since we all know that real hipsters defy gender)." Everyone got their "shopping on" as E would say. We were all overwhelmed by the crazy downtown mall, but Shannon found some deals at Old Navy, Kevin found some at Performance Bike, and Mom found hers in Chinatown.

Then, Sunday night, we chilled here at the house and E and I celebrated our first Thanksgiving together--so very lucky to have family with us to have turkey (E rocked his first bird...YUM), white sweet potatoes (yeah, we don't know what the hell is going on with Cali veggies most of the time--when cooked, apparently white sweet potatoes turn green...really?!?!), and corn muffins (ahhhh yes, predictable). All followed by the longest UNO game I think that any of us have EVER played... Marathon no doubt.

By Monday, we were all exhausted, and E and I were thrilled to have seen three amazing people and so thankful that they came all the way out here to see us. Spending time with the folks was an amazing refresher...

So much so that we found the courage to go ahead and make the big purchase... We bought a truck! And all 267,000+ miles are happily ours! It's a sweet truck that hasn't taken much adjusting to fit into our lives (in fact, we took advantage of it today and got out of dodge for a quick hike...yeah, we can do that now...crazy). And now, we're just one step closer to the next chapter in our lives...perhaps central Pa again?!?

Our hike in Marin:

Pep kept Shannon company the whole day... never letting Shannon forget that she was there: "hey shannon... I'm Pepper!"

All fresh at the beginning...

Gotta try out that new camera... works best in awkward positions!

Pretty nice sunlight coming through this day... Must be the low winter sun

at the base of Cataract Falls... Yay! There was water!

Snack anyone?

Photography lessons anyone?

Caspar David Friedrich anyone?

There seems to always be something new everytime we go here. These mushrooms were lovely.

Walking the ridge...lean....

(this is E's image... wanted some color for minute...I was happy to share)

e again...

and of course...again...

I made this one for Mom... Here you go, Mom!

The ocean isn't half bad some days...

And E braved the winds here to check out the sunset...

Shannon and I stuck around the car... brrrrrrrr.....

skillz to pay the billz

Lose an earring down the sink? this boy's got'cha covered...even at 11 pm and beer in hand... awwwwwwww
(truth be told- that was the last one of a few to fall that night...sweet! -E)

Nope, not a return to the messenger days... those are new camera cases to keep that library in check... nice and tidy. Yeah...

One on the back...one on the handle bars...
And no, I couldn't help carry... I could barely get him in the frame of my picture while riding my bike... truth be told--I'm plenty sketchy on my own.

Long time to think

Well, here I am back in San Fran...got it going on with school...lots to do...still working through images made over the summer...applying for residencies, buying photo supplies, printing for a commission that I need to send out this weekend, geeking on photo stuff, photographing with 35mm cameras (when I remember to load the film- these cameras are supposed to be the easy ones to use), making new images out of previous images and maps- really like them but need to work bigger, and really getting used to being married- love that woman like no other but the first 3 months of marriage apart is a wide rift to mend all at once...got a suh-weet azz wide angle lens for the view camera- talk about nice glass...we got a desk- how did we live for 15 months without this thing? Our local super gay pride AIDS funding thrift store has it all- even got some sweet Patagonia pants for $8.25 (new!!!)...Pepper is recovering from hiking with our friends Michele and Ben (she is another student at SFAI)...our library memberships pay off like crazy- lots of free muzak...Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies (you have to check these guys out...sweet covers of songs you are embarrassed to admit you really like...like we didn't know you have all of Billy Joel's CD's...Jordyn? Kev & Shay Shay?) Still loving the cheapest beer we can swill...Trader Joe's Simpler Times Lager 6.2%= 2.99 for 6 aluminum bottles!!!! Holly hang over! We still miss everyone more than ever!!! NorCal sucks and if I make it through the year without heading east it will be a surprise to me. Not that they read this- everyone is getting married these days so a huge congratulations goes out to Eric and Kim from Ohio land!!! They are looking east too...
Enough ranting after a one beer buzz on an empty stomach....mmmmmm
I hope everyone is well and things are going forward
we miss you
even pepper misses a few of you
later gater
e & g & sometimes Pep!

Yet another sweet meal of vegies and spices...how much would you spend for this in a restaraunt? we have no idea but it cost us less than $5.00!!! Dirtbags learn...

The E Roman library of cameras and lenses...always growing in positive ways...mmmm...nice glass and accurate shutters!!! Nikon anyone?

This is what happens when I look for value and performance...this lens has more glass than any two of my other lenses!!! Fuji- wide- sweet...don't mind the Titanium hitchin' ring

She still isn't into the NorCal scene...whut up bitches? It must be Sunny in Philadelphia...

Desk a plenty!!! Mmmmm, easy on my back when geekin on ebay camera stuffs

newest work...in my newest proposal for working as artist in residence

Another meal fit for the lady!!! Those are fresh potato chips in fresh guac! Corn chip covered pork and black beans with garlic and fresh baby spinach...mmmmm


Miss Lady lady...dealing with me...thanks lady...

Super beard be damned! wouldn't you know it...I miss it and am growing it right back!

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...