Reference: The World

Of robin nests (4/30)...

2009-04-30T10:14:00.003-06:00

Our house is built into a hill. Our front yard is on a different level of the house than our back yard. Our basement opens onto a back patio, which is underneath the deck off our kitchen on the main level of the house. We don't spend much time on the back patio, but spend a fair amount on the deck.

This spring, robins have built a nest on the porch light on the back patio. Normally, we try to scare the robins off because they leave a great mess of poop on the cement otherwise.

However, we're leaving them alone this time because when we look down through the cracks between planks of wood on our deck above, we get to see this...

I look forward to attempting to document what will most likely prove to be a noisy, messy unfolding of life on our back patio.

Of sunny skies, not so sunny skies, and eggs (not sunny side up)...

2009-04-24T14:41:00.005-06:00

April 17th, 2009
We got a late snow dump, extra wet and heavy. This was near the beginning of the storm.

April 20th, 2009
I successfully made a ham and cheese omelette without burning anything or poisoning anyone.

April 21st, 2009.
The I-25 and Broadway Light Rail station around 5 in the afternoon.
D-line train to Mineral station pulling in.

Doors still closed.

Doors opening, passengers disembark.

People running to catch train before doors might close.

Final passengers boarding before train leaves the station.

The view of the mountains (and sky) from the station platforms.

April 22nd, 2009
Driving northbound, into spring shower.

The view of the still bright and sunny sky in my driver's side mirror.

Of zoos... (safe version)

2009-04-05T18:52:00.009-06:00

As promised, here is the post with images from the zoo day in March, sans the NSFW portions...

Maned wolf. Sometimes referred to as a "fox on stilts."

The bars of the fence over this maned wolf's hindquarters were annoying, so I did what I could to remove them from the image as much as possible. Oh the joys of photoshop.

Bat-eared fox.

Giraffes. The calf was almost a month old at the time of this photo.

Polar bears.

Alligator. I think. I forget if it was, and I can't tell the shape of the jaw in this photo.

Tawny frogmouth.

Bearded barbet.

Boelen's python.

Arctic foxes.

NSFW: Of zoos and "that time of year"...

2009-03-29T16:02:00.010-06:00

March 8th, 2009: Ruth and I did a day trip to the Denver Zoo. If you have ever been to the zoo in spring, you know that it is the time of year that you're most likely to see the animals getting it on. And it was definitely one of those days at the zoo. I will only show you a couple of the...performers though. The more standard (safe for work) zoo fare will be in the next post.

DISCLAIMER: Please understand that I share these here because the purpose of this blog is to study ALL world visuals and experiences as potential reference material in art. The anatomy and activity of animals is scientific and completely natural, and while the humor of the situation can't be refuted (I laughed plenty at the kid and her parents talking in the background of the zebra video at the time of recording), these images are in no way pornographic nor obscene if you approach them with a rational and calm mind. The video is included as an example of the physical range of motion that makes the penile muscle capable of positioning or relaxing for differing activities. Be a grownup.

Crested black macaques. The more swollen the ischial callosities (hardened skin over the buttocks) are, the more receptive the female is. This species is polygamous and promiscuous in breeding activity.

This male zebra stood in the shade at the opposite end of the exhibit from all of the females, flexing his penile muscle and then letting it relax...over and over and over. I have no idea what the purpose of that was, but it attracted a lot of amused attention from the humans...and no attention at all from the mares.

Of cities on the bay where the fog rolls in and I'd be every day if I had my way...

2008-12-20T09:34:00.012-07:00

Last year, for my fall break/Thankgiving week, I flew to San Francisco and spent it with my best friend, Tam. I love San Francisco (and Tam) and am happily leaving in a few hours to go spend Christmas and New Year's there with Tam as well. In light of that, this post is a collection of nonsense from the previous San Fran trip...

And finally, this is probably one of my top five favorite things about San Francisco... The Bush Man. He was there, in the exact same spot, when I went years ago in my teens. Last year, he was still pulling his fabulous trick, and I was fortunate to get a short clip of him in action.

Of petals and leaves and berries and pods and seeds and jagged bright blue sky...

2008-12-17T17:28:00.005-07:00

September 9th, 2008
An assortment of flora photos taken on my campus.

Of high heels and hard hats and family in perspective...

2008-12-17T16:40:00.006-07:00

May 3rd, 2008
We walked past this amusing combination of signs inside Denver International Airport. My mother asked me to take a photograph of it for her.

May 7th, 2008
Walking into the kitchen at night, I was amused at the sight of my youngest sister breaking in some new high heels while cooking. In her apron. Aaaand no pants. At least she was wearing underwear!

August 24th, 2008
The night before my middle younger sister left for college in another state, she was getting a head massage from our father to ease a headache. Our dog, Elroy, joined them. I think this is a worthwhile perspective study.

Of puppy-eyed classmates and their cellular devices...

2008-12-09T12:42:00.003-07:00

A classmate/buddy of mine, when we were loafing around one afternoon.

March 2008

He makes a few faces, and talks on his cell phone. These photos do not properly portray the puppy-dog adorableness of this person.

Of mason jars and delapidated timepieces...

2008-12-09T12:30:00.005-07:00

The southerner in me really likes mason jars.
Putting them on the deck at dusk looks neat.
January 2008

Putting christmas lights in them was just weird.
January 2008

A pocketwatch one of us kids dug up
when we were little in the fields around
our house in West Texas.
It was in this state when we found it,
and we kept it. And I photographed it
years after the fact.
February 2008

Of public transportation, strangers, and camwhores...

2008-12-07T12:51:00.001-07:00

Two strangers and an "art kite" on the light rail
January 28th, 2008

A lecherous man who seemed to have Alzheimer's or dementia of some type, encountered on several occasions on the light rail during Fall, 2007 and Spring, 2008. He was simultaneously cute and creepy as heck, and on this particular day was constantly implying sexual things toward myself and the young lady, a fellow college-goer, in the image above. The other man in the image above, a total stranger to the rest of us, shared in our slightly disturbed amusement, but was more concerned than entertained, and at one point told the elderly pervert to keep his mouth shut. When he got off the train, he quietly warned us to be careful about the old guy.
...I chose to take a photo of the old guy instead.

My younger sister occasionally steals my camera and camwhores. I find the evidence of the crime on my camera later. And laugh.
February 11th, 2008

Of fiery awesome sunsets...

2008-12-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

The sunset as seen from my back deck
August 12th, 2008

And the flip side, almost 180 degrees away from the sunset, was the moonrise.

Of kitties and christmas trees...

2008-12-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

My older cat, Troubles, under the family Christmas tree
2007

Of hats and naps and 5 AM sunrises during grocery runs...

2008-12-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

One of my younger sisters wears a silly winter hat (and makes odd faces)
Fall, 2007

The sky catches fire over WalMart
November 16th, 2007
4:56 AM to 4:57 AM

Second, youngest sister napping curled up in a reclining chair
December 8th, 2007

Of aquariums and large swimming things...

2008-12-01T23:13:00.000-07:00

Excessively large fish and friend Ruth
March 11th, 2008
...note their similar expression (I think they are conversing)

Sea turtle swimming overhead
March 11th, 2008

Same as above!

Of sunsets, dying things, dead things, and pollinating things...

2008-12-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

Sunset with visible light rays
August 7th, 2008
6:39 PM

Fallen crabapples
August 12th, 2008

Recently deceased grackle
August 12th, 2008

Hibiscus flower and its pollen
August 12th, 2008