Sunday, September 30, 2012

My Kids

My wife likes me to spend time with our children. I her that's a real turn on for mothers. To see Fathers interacting with their children. So I'm down with that. These month I plan to post portraits of my kids. I like them a lot so this should be fun. I think I will start out with the basics and then get artsy as we progress.
I think they are pretty good looking bunch and you should enjoy looking at them for the next 31 days of Avila children.

GhostHuntr

I just finished a series called Luther on Netflix. It's a British Police Procedural. It was super cool and dark and gritty. There is only 2 seasons and the second season is only 4 episodes long but they packed more into these episodes than a hundred American shows. What caught my eye was the opening credits. Lots of red and lots of layers. I like to play in that sand box and this is my take for my BBC special: GhostHuntr

Friday, September 28, 2012

DAVan Gogh

I nearly missed one of the most iconic self-portraits ever. It's a great piece of art and from what I learned from Doctor Who, very cool dude. I can not believe it has been a month of self-portraits. It was fun and I still have a couple of days left. Next month I will be doing portraits of my children. That should be fun.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Shadow Tree Brain

Since doing this whole self-portrait challenge, I tried gathering ideas from the Internet. I came across the naked guy and trees. I talked about skipping that idea. I also came across the photo of a person's shadow mixing into a tree shadow. I looked like the top of the tree grew from their head. I think I nailed it. LOLZ.
I think I'll keep trying to find the perfect tree and the perfect time for this shot. I know that the sun can help or hurt when taking photos.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The Queen is Dead

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things
Like love and law and poverty
Oh, these are the things that kill me
What a great opening song. What a great album. The Queen is Dead is just made of awesome sauce.
Being a teenager slash young adult and hearing Morrissey sing out,"Life is long when you are lonely". Could there have been a more identifiable anthem for a young weirdo like me?

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Meat is Murder

Meat is Murder is an incredibly disturbing song by The Smiths. The animal cries and the music and Morrissey's haunting voice. When I listen to The Smiths, I usually skip over the song. One, it's creepy as hell and Two, I love meat. I'm good with butchering my own animals. My Dad did a few times when we had our farm. Commercial butchering is another story.  Very close to my home town was a plant that is under investigation for its treatment of animals. That's a bad thing. I wish communities were more dependent on what it produces locally, fruits, vegetables, meat and clothing. But that would take a lot of money out of over stuffed pockets. So, that may never happen in this world. Maybe the next.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Louder than Bombs

I am a huge fan of The Smiths. If I could, I would be in a cover band. It was a sad day when they broke up. My favorite album of theirs is Louder than Bombs. It is a huge range of styles yet very much The Smiths. Rubber Ring is maybe my favorite song off the album. The lyrics I identify mostly with are:
And when you're dancing and laughing
And finally living
Hear my voice in your head
And think of me kindly

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Relay for Life

There are some in this world who would kill cancer themselves if they could. It doesn't just make affect one person. It's a bomb that affects families and friends and coworkers. It radiates outward in waves. Devouring the health and spirits of all in its wake.
I don't know if they will ever eradicate cancer. Until then there is hope, love and family to get you through.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Hmmmmm

I may not always go hmmm, but when I do, I always start thinking. I was looking at some self-portraits to get some ideas and I came across this one guy who took some photos with a tree but nude. So, count your lucky stars that I am clothed. This is a pretty old tree I would guess from the size of it. I am sure it's been around a while and seen a lot of things if it had eyes. I don't think trees have eyes but I am sure it witness a ton of history.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Blair Witch

There is something unsettling about someone having their back turned to you. It's used a lot in movies and art.  The Blair Witch Project comes to mind, at the last moment in the film when you are taken to the basement and that guy has his face to the wall and he won't turn around. If you don't remember or never seen it, watch here. All I can think of is what is about to happen and the only thing to happen is that they turn around and that's when the fun start, That's when the horror or beauty is revealed but until then there is only anticipation, heavier than a drop of Heinz ketchup.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Whirl

There must be some psychiatric reason for my love of photos from below. Looking up to me must make me feel superior and dominate. But then, I am not center. I always have something else that takes precedence. It's something best unsaid. A nut best saved to be cracked later.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Staying on Top of It

It's hard to be unique. Especially when you try to fit in. Society loves a clown but only when they can turn you off. Reality based buffoonery is not as appreciated it seems. So you do what you love and be who you are in private and amongst those who call you friend. At least they embrace your antics.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Work Shoes

For over 2 years I walked for over a mile and a half everyday. No weight was lost for any of that time. I come to 2nd shift and within 30 days I lost 10 pounds. I am officially under 200 pounds and it only took from March to September. Pissed! What was it? What is different? I am not eating Jen's dinners. That's not true. I still do but at work, I eat a sandwich and a fiber bar. Not much else. So when they, who ever they are, say to eat less and exercise more. It is true. Living proof.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Beaners love Beans

This is sort of a bean inception. I really love beans. Pinto beans. Black Beans. Green Beans. Okay, the green beans are a stretch but you get what I mean. My Mom made beans a lot. It was more like a beans soup because it was liquidy not refried. I love refried beans a lot too. When she passed that ended my bean fast track.
Until my wife started making them and she makes awesome beans. So flavorful and tasty. They make great refried beans too. She makes so much that I am in bean heaven for a week. I say heaven only because of the cloud of farts that follow me for a week.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Bed of Creek

I'm about half away through my self-portrait challenge. I think it's going well. I don't know about you but I am starting to get sick of looking at myself a little.
I am thinking of ideas for the coming month. One idea is portraits of my kids. Posed and proper. What do you think?

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Center Ring

I think this would be a great place to play poker. I love poker but I don't ever get to play other than for fun on Facebook. When I lived at the house of 3D, Del, Darrin and DAVe. We played some poker. There was one night where I drink my first case of beer, Achievement unlocked! And there was this girl I Loved to death. She went home and I didn't tell her good night so I ran after her, nasty ass drunk and bare foot. Luckily she didn't live far. I think I beat her home because I ran across an empty field to here apartment. So she drives up and finds me standing in her parking space. Drunk as hell and tried from running. I said good night and started back. I think I got back. It's all fuzzy after that.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Gateway to the Sequoias

Over by the Convention Center. Over by the Post Office downtown. There is a mural of the Giant Sequoias. Next to it is a plaque giving its title, Gateway to the Sequoias. It details that it was designed and created by the Teen Mural Club way back in 1999. It must have been a party. I don't know if they've done others but there are a few other murals around town. Visalia has an original Coca-Cola mural downtown that was revealed after a building was knocked down. It was restored and some A-hole graffitied it. They have since restore it again and it's pretty cool. I think I use the word pretty too much.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Tri-Bench

There is a new office building downtown and in front of it are these seemingly random three benches. I don't think I've seen anyone ever use them. It's right next to a highway on ramp, so it gets busy at this intersection and loud from cars and ambulances. Yes, ambulances, because the hospital is next door. It doesn't make sense to me but interesting.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Loft

There are some buildings in Visalia I find beautiful. I'm sure to Historians of Visalia they have names. I don't know the name of this one or any of the others. I will just call this The Loft. What I find so interesting is the detailing of the paint and the color choices. I can't think of another building downtown that looks anything like it as far as bright and bold color scheme

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Relax, it will soon be over.

At Kaweah Delta Hospital, there is an opening to Mill Creek. Most of Mill Creek is covered downtown. I hear of plans to open up the creek but that's not important. The hospital built this seating area near the creek and kept it landscaped more or less. I really liked going there when Jen had her surgery awhile back. It was quiet and reflective and near by.
It's frightening when the one you love is in a situation completely out of your control and all you can do is wait, hope, pray and relax, it will soon be over

Monday, September 10, 2012

In the Park

I have this new device that allows me to mount my phone to my tripod. It's called a Piquant. It's very cool if you only have a camera phone or you use your camera phone a lot, like me. It's not a profession camera but it takes fairly good photos. Good enough for the web at least.
It was about 10 am on a Sunday and there were a surprisingly fair amount of people out, walkers with dogs, bicyclists, runners and the like. Most were cheerful and said good morning and I returned the greeting. They did not question me. There must be a fair amount of photographers that come there or they didn't care.
I love this park at West Main Street. It makes me think of what Visalia looked like way back when it was settled and it was full of oak trees.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Another Brick

I had just finished a day of photography when I was getting into my car and I noticed me. I thought what an opportunity to do a self-portrait. So I tried to keep the camera phone out of the shot but it's so small you can;t see it any way. As soon as I was done, a guy walked up to me and asked for money to get him and his girlfriend to Tulare. I handed him my piggy bank. He was surprised and thankful. He shook my hand and wished me a good Sunday and said God Bless You. Did he really need that money for a taxi to Tulare? I don't know. I judged he was truthful and I trusted he was. I hope they get home safe.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Take a walk

There is a bridge where I don't go to anymore. I love bridges. I want to revisit it. I love crossing over to another place separated by space. This bridge is where I touched my first boob too.

Sunshine


I'm Mister Green Christmas
I'm Mister Sun
I'm Mister Heat Blister
I'm Mister Hundred and One
They call me Heat Miser,
What ever I touch
Starts to melt in my clutch
I'm too much!
He's Mister Green Christmas
He's Mister Sun
He's Mister Heat Blister
He's Mister Hundred and One
They call me Heat Miser,
What ever I touch
Starts to melt in my clutch
He's too much!
Thank you!
I never want to know a day
That's under sixty degrees
I'd rather have it eighty,
Ninety, one hundred's a breeze!
(spoken)
Oh, some like it hot, but I like it
REALLY hot! Hee hee!
He's Mister Green Christmas
He's Mister Sun
Sing it!
He's Mister Heat Blister
He's Mister Hundred and One
They call me Heat Miser,
What ever I touch
Starts to melt in my clutch
I'm too much!
Too Much!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Mayonnaise Kisses

Once upon a time, I had mayonnaise on my face and I offered to kiss my wife. She refused me then and any other time I had food on my face. It's a running joke between me and her and a few of you who listened to our podcast.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Shaving

I shave nearly every day. But no one bothers to comment unless I skip a day. What if I skipped half and no one noticed or maybe only half noticed.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Look Up to Me

I heard of a photographer piecing together a series of pictures of a ceiling and composed a photo of a room looking up. I am too lazy for that nonsense and took one of me for my series of self portraits.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Me Too

We had just came back from my first time at Wild Water Adventure in Clovis. It was an adventure. So many people there. What was odd was that people would get in the water in street clothes. Not t-shirts but button collar and slacks. Weird. We ate a ton of snacks and sandwiches. I made fun of the wife for making so many but we ate nearly all of them.
I didn't go on any daring rides but the kids did. I held back and chilled in the water. It was chilly. Ever see the episode of Seinfeld where George experiences shrinkage? It was like that. The family has been there before and claim it was near that busy before and much more enjoyable with less people. I look forward to that.

Camera dreams and DSLR wishes

There is a camera I am eye balling at our local Costco. It looks a little like this to my left. I really like the 70D model but they don't have that at Costco. This is just as cool as far as I know and that is not much.
I wonder to myself, what if I had a camera as awesome as this. How would I pay for a camera like this. I have big dreams but no cash. I would bet anything if I had this camera I would stare at it for a long time and marvel at its beauty. Then I would run out and take a picture of a pig and TARDIS. Because that's my style. Few if any appreciate my love for pigs and blue boxes. That could be a cool band name. Pigs and Blue Boxes. TM.
The way my photography is heading it's more of a vanity project, doing what I like to do and I really don't require a $1000 camera to do that. I can dream though.


Saturday, September 1, 2012

Dat's me

I think I want to explore myself and do a month of self portraits. Let us see what I can come up with.