52 Project: Lazy Friday

Have I mentioned I only work half day Fridays? It's so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend doing it. I took this photo this Friday afternoon.

I was kinda in a rut trying to think of a good photo for this week. I really have no idea how people come up with something original everyday for a year. Thats so crazy. Anyway, back to the picture. I really had nothing to do when I got home except watch the soccer channel. I thought it would be cool to take a picture from my perspective. Hope you like it.

QWOP: The Impossible Game

Have you heard of QWOP yet? A friend sent me this link last week. While it looks simple, it's really complicated. If you're interested in getting work done, I suggest that you don't click here. If you're interested in being extremely frustrated go right ahead.

I'm not saying its as bad as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from nintendo, QWOP is actually fun. Try it... Please try it and then come back.

Did you end up something like this? I did. Many times. My record distance in only 8 meters and I cheated to get it.

The word on the street is that there's a hurdle at 50 meters. Thats just mean

52 Project: Valentines Day Edition

Ok, so I think I forgot to post last week, so here's my entry for last week's 52 installment. Not really a self portrait, but I'm making the rules, so this counts. In case you don't recognize it, this is the Navy Memorial here in DC and where I first met my girlfriend nearly 2 years ago. We met eating lunch with a mutual friend.

After struggling with ideas for a V-day present I finally came up with this. I've been fooling around with collages for a few weeks now and it fit perfectly with the whole 52 project.

I photographed at 3 different times; evening, dusk and midday. The actual, physical version has more day shots on it, but I can't seem to find those images on my computer right now. It was a bit weird taking so many photos. I was worried that people were going to think I was a Russian spy African Spy (do they have those here??) Anyway, I got some weird looks.

For the presentation, I framed it in one of those "float" frames. It ended up being about 10x24. In case you're wondering, it went over very well :)

I'm a Crotchety old Man

There are some young punks skateboarding outside my window right now. I'm debating whether or not to tell them to leave. Hopefully they go before I make them feel bad. These kids look to be early 20's suburban kids. Probably American U students. I think if I go angry black man on them they'll go without incident. OK. Channeling my inner Samuel L Jackson.

As I put my shoes on, the kids left. Maybe tomorrow night.

Who skateboards at 12:30 anyway?

Jacket Update: Polish Phone Tag

It's now been 2 weeks since I ordered the jacket and it has still not shipped. The UPS website says the same message that a delivery has been scheduled, but no package has been picked up.

Monday, I decided to go on the offensive. Using the address off their website and Google's street view, I found out who their next door neighbor was. Turns out LA Tan were the lucky business.

I could explain the next sequence of events, but I'll just summarize. It'll save a bit of exaggeration. The girl at LA Tan(who was way too nice) that picked up the phone offered to go next door to talk to the manager and help sort out the mess. She got a number for me to call, which in classic fashion, didn't work (disconnected because of the blizzard. Man up Chicago and fix your phones). The picture below illustrates me on the phone with LA Tan. I'm the black guy.

At this point I was pissed it had taken me the better part of an hour to get the number it didn't work. On top of it, LA Tan now wasn't picking up the phone. I grabbed 2 pencils, broke them, threw them in the corner of my cubicle and yelled "THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!". Just as I did that, a higher up guy walked by my desk. I acted like Autocad crashed. I thought it would be ridiculous to say I was on the phone with a tanning salon in Chicago trying to track down some Polish people about a winter jacket on a day that it was 65 degrees.

I had to have my girlfriend call back, I was way to upset to talk to these people. In a very anticlimactic end to the story. It turns out that the jacket is sold out and is back ordered until March. Just in time for it to be out of season....

Let's just hope it fits when it gets here.

The 52 Project: Levitation

Ok, so here's my week 2 installment of the 52 project. I'm working on a more creative title :)

So the story behind this one. I got up this morning kinda early so I had a lot of extra time. Most of my photos have been at night lately so I decided to snap a few shots before heading off to work. That's pretty much it. Setup was fairly easy since the room was already semi clean, so I wasn't too late for work.

Chicago Needs to Man Up

Continuing my obession with that French soccer commercial, I have decided to buy the jacket that the guy at the end is wearing. Seeing as there's no USA version available (odd seeing as Nike is American, but anyway) I decided on getting the Arsenal jacket.

I actually saw the jacket at Niketown NYC earlier this winter but passed on it because it was too expensive. And I didn't really think I needed it at the time. Now that I've had a change of heart its no longer available... anywhere. Sh*t.

After scouring the internet for hours at work in my leisure time last week, I finally found a shop in Chicago that had it in stock, in my size and on sale!!!

I placed the order last Monday, the 31st. It's now the 8th of February and it still hasn't arrived. Apparently the blizzard that hit Chicago last week is holding it up.

I remember back in college, all the Chicago kids would say that the snowstorms were small compared to what they would get up in Chitown. Where are you now, Joe H*? Did the city run out of shovels or something? This would never happen in Wisconsin... Just sayin.

Man Up Chicago.

New Obsession: The 52 Project

It's been a few months since the fixed gear project has ended and I'm getting antsy. I need another goal to work towards like getting an architecture license a fun project. After scouring the internet for hours at work yesterday I settled on a 52 project. One self portrait a week for a year.

A few years ago I tried a 365 project(1 photo a day) and failed miserably. I got about 4 photos in and the all sucked. After a week I got tired of getting the camera out everyday and resorted to taking pictures of my feet with a camera phone. Ugh. I think one a week will still push me to grow, but without the pressure of having to setup a shot every single day.

So onto the first photo. I'm calling this one Superstar. I took it after my rec league soccer game last night. I love playing in these local leagues, but the one part that i don't like is the fact that you really can't tell anyone about the game. Sure you've played you heart out in the game, but it sounds kinda lame to come into work the next day and say "hey we beat the red team last night. It was epic". So last night was my chance to be the superstar.

After taking a second look this morning, I'm noticing a few things. I guess I could have actually removed the camera lenses and maybe cleaned my apartment a little. Meh, I've got 52.... er, 51 weeks to get it right.

State of the Blog Address

Ok, I'll admit it. It's been pretty slow around here the past few weeks. Only four posts in the month of January? It's been rough. To my credit I actually have written 5 other posts in the last 2 weeks that I just haven't posted due to lack of humor, tmi, or other issues.

I don't see this as a negative though. It kinda follows the Tupac model. He's released more albums since he died than when he was alive. I know, genius (I actually misspelled that before spellcheck caught it).

To reward my loyal readers, I'm pledging to reinvest myself in the blog. I'm here to promise at least 2 new posts a week. Ha! take that Obama. I'm pretty sure that trumps your energy plan. (Barack reads this blog, ask him)

Good day America!... and Thailand