Tag: Photography

  • Travel: Vegas at Night, Las Vegas, Nevada

    Ah, Vegas.

    So, it’s a bit of a long story … but once upon a time, I worked for a progressive web consulting firm called the Carol | Trevelyan Strategy Group. We were a mission-driven organization, with nary a business degree among us. The type of company where people willing worked obscene hours for “the cause,” and where management was willing to go without a pay check in the lean months.

    Started in the early 1990s, CTSG created the first campaign web site (one of the California Senators) and by the end we had worked with just about every major progressive organization, cause and politician in U.S.

    Unfortunately, our luck started to run out when the non-profit technology industry started to consolidate in 2004. By the 17th of March 2005, we had been gobbled up by a soul-less, publically traded corporation called Kintera.

    Ironically, it turns out that our non-profit clients just weren’t willing to subsidize the cost of our doing business progressively … and we should all be honest that non-profits are just about the most ardent capitalists around when it comes to minimizing their budgetary spending.

    Anyway, we were in the planning stages of a company retreat when the St. Patricks Day massacre occured. For many, the purchse turned out to be little more than an excerize in pink-slip avoidance, so it was of little shock that something as expensive and touchy-feel as a staff retreat was cancelled.

    While the 2005 retreat was “lost,” a group of us are getting together in Vegas this weekend to make up for lost time and retreats. First step was meeting by the Bellagio fountains at midnight. How very “Ocean’s Eleven” of us.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Vegas at Night, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Photos: Cypress Creek, Wimberly, Texas

    Out in Texas for Thanksgiving. It’s been an aweful long time since I have done any photography …

    Not too long after the trip to Arizona, Emily (the Cat) started having pretty severe problems with her stomach. Turns out that everything is okay, but she has been on twice daily medication which has put some limits on travel and extra-curricular activities.

    I had never been to Texas hill country before, so driving out to Wimberly and back was really quite something. My life has been so East Coast-centric, that just about any new biome impresses the heck out of me.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Cypress Creek, Wimberly, Texas
  • Carter’s Country Shooting Range

    [Carter's Country Shooting Range, Houston, Texas]
    there is nothing better than going with three hot young texas women to a shooting range out her in a suburb of a suburb of houston, texas.

    the spindler sisters were decidedly the only women there under 300 lbs — and watching the crowd as they moved through is as close as i’ll ever get to witnessing supermodels navigate the paparazzi on fifth avenue.

    i didn’t shoot myself — not sure anybody was ready to a the long-haired hippie with anything approximating a loaded weapon — but watching everybody else watching the spindler sisters squeeze off a few rounds was totally worth all those awkward “who let him in here” stares i recieved.

    See Slideshow of the Photos on Flickr:
    Carter’s Country Shooting Range, Spring, Texas
  • Photos: National Zoological Park, Washington, DC

    The National Zoo just opened up a new Asian Trail, and I haven’t had a chance to check it out before today. My parents are in town, and we decided to take advantage of an “indian summer” day by spending it outside.

    The featured image for today’s entry is probably one of my favorites in recent memory. The pattern and the sunlight … Every once in a while you just get lucky.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    National Zoological Park, Washington, DC
  • Hike: Meneka Peak, near Front Royal, Virginia

    It’s a long weekend for those of us on Federal holiday schedule … Columbus Day weekend. With the extra time, I decided to go a bit farther afield than I normally travel.

    A good friend of mine has always said great things about George Washington National Forest (and nearby Jefferson National Forest). Due to a slight trail mixup (and poor signage) I didn’t have enought time to do the ever-popular Signal Knob hike, but did an abbreviated version that went over Meneka Peak instead.

    Great hike, but about two weeks too early for any real foliage. I will have to come back a little later next year.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Meneka Peak, near Front Royal, Virginia
  • Hike: Sky Meadows State Park, Virginia

    Things turned out so well when we decided to visit The State Arboreatum of Virginia based soley off its brown sign on I-66 that we decided to follow the brown signs to Sky Meadows State Park.

    It was fall festival, which filled up the parking lot a bit, but once we got out on the trails there was no real sign that there was anyone else in the park at all.

    As the name implies, the best bits of the park are the meadow sections. Grass, sky, clouds … probably the closest I will get to a real “prairie” this close to the Atlantic.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Sky Meadows State Park, Virginia
  • Travel: Road to Nogales, Arizona

    This photo set is kind of a hodgepodge of what was left after Patagonia and Parker Canyon were removed.

    Early snaps were of the stretches of Coronado National Forest between Tucson and Parker Canyon, later snaps were from the road between Patagonia and Nogales. We did catch a stunning sunset right on the outskirts of town.

    On the way back to Tucson, I got caught in yet another Border Patrol checkpoint. The agent stopped us, looked at me oddly for a couple seconds … I finally said “Hello,” he asked if I was a citizen, and then told me to move along before I responded.

    I wonder if maybe some of these resources should be reallocated to something like murder or domestic violence or something.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Road to Nogales, Arizona
  • Hike: Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Arizona

    After all that driving, it appears that the preserve was closed. Unfortunately, I kind of had to pee (and the gate was unlocked), so I decided to take my chances.

    We walked around a bit, saw yet another snake (NOT poisonous) and I was incrediably impressed with the preserve. It was well signed, very good literature, and obviously well cared for.

    As we were leaving, the preserve keeper came over to shoo us away (nicely, of course) … and we talked for a while before we drove off. Not that I am not already a donor, but if I wasn’t I think the whole experince was enough to inspire me to get my checkbook out.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Arizona
  • Travel: Parker Canyon, Arizona

    Last day in Arizona, and I was determined to not have any bad wildlife experience between me and the plane home.

    The initial thought was to drive down to the Mexican border, stopping at a Nature Conservancy preserve along the way. Through the first part of the trip, however, we were innundated with signs for an Arizona State Park called “Parker Canyon.”

    Feeling a bit of familial loyalty, we took a detour and wandered around the *completely* empty state park.

    Explore the Photo Set:
    Parker Canyon, Arizona