Daily Photos

< December 2004 >

December 1, 2004
Back by popular demand: the sun. Don`t worry, I kept the receipt in case it doesn`t fit you. You know the old saying, `Make pictures while the sun shines`. Caution: hot. Have I mentioned that the sun was shining today?

December 2, 2004
Ophelia`s leaf (see November 6) is now frozen in time. I kid you not: this truck hasn`t moved (see August 19 and October 10). As long as you`re looking back at old pictures, see how this has changed since October 31. Today was the first day I actually had to wear gloves while taking pictures. How come this one wasn`t frozen like the first?

December 3, 2004
A frosty Friday. It was cold last night. Guess we shoulda brought the cat in. Deck the halls . . . . . . with boughs of holly. All the cool kids wear them.

December 4, 2004
No smoking or guns? If I stay inside this building all the time, I could live forever. At a Christmas concert dress rehearsal. Note the stained glass pattern. Here`s the effect of the stained glass. And here`s what one of the choir members saw when she collapsed. I can`t pronounce the name of this flower (since I don`t speak Mexican).

December 5, 2004
A sunny Sunday. My architectural vocabulary is limited, so I`m not sure what this Pointy Thing is. Back door bareness. !tuo em teL `I`m sorry sir, you`ll have to leave now. That`s all you can eat.`

December 6, 2004
Right across the street, and I never noticed this hanging around. The tree that goes with any outfit. My favorite house in the Oregon District. Please don`t repaint it. Nicer than anything you could buy in a store.

December 7, 2004
The scrubwoman`s ghost. Soggy sentinals. Like my new pink watch? Some people are just too sweet to me. My camera didn`t come with washing instructions, so I just used the delicate cycle and hoped for the best.

December 8, 2004
`I don`t worry about stains on the rug anymore since I hung it on the wall.` `So you see, Mr. Bond, why I have no choice but to kill you.` `I think this column is simply marbleous.` Yes, the flower`s pretty too. Smile supressed at the photographer`s request.

December 9, 2004
Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love. JOHN MILTON T`is the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Of an eye where feeling plays In ten thousand dewy rays. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH The alleged power to charm down insanity, or ferocity in beasts, is a power behind the eye. RALPH WALDO EMERSON And all my days are trances And all my nightly dreams Are where thy dark eye glances. EDGAR ALLAN POE

December 10, 2004
If dusk comes before night, what comes before morning? Dawnsk? Having driven down this street all my life, I was surprised to find someone had put a church there. He`ll never be able to land eight reindeer on those balconies. Please stand by. A microscopic view of what your teeth look like after eating Froot Loops.

December 11, 2004
A late-night tour of my neighborhood at Christmastime. In other words, it`s eleven o`clock and I haven`t taken any pictures yet today. In other words, shooting strangers` houses in the dark of night. Not bad for shooting out the car window with the engine running. The true meaning of Christmas.

December 12, 2004
After attending an enjoyable Christmas concert today . . . I went home and poured myself a glass of raspberry tea . . . Put on some holiday music . . . Wrapped a few presents . . . And then watched some TV.

December 13, 2004
I had this to contend with on my windshield this morning. Can you see it? There were what looked like iridescent oily clouds in the sky. There were a few moments of sunshine today. For pete`s sake, cut your fingernails! Practice rooms are equipped with mirrors so vocalists can watch themselves as they, uh, sing.

December 14, 2004
Yes, it`s the same lily from December 8, but after a week in my refrigerator it`s starting to smell like taco sauce. Memory is the ability to gather roses in the winter. What a difference a day makes. Hint: I don`t need one of these for Christmas. My head is bored.

December 15, 2004
What do they call it when it`s cloudy? Support Our Magnetic Ribbon Manufacturers. There`s a man in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza. Nobody was dining at this restaurant`s outdoor patio. `Waiter, there`s an icicle in my soup.` Got me a piano there once.

December 16, 2004
It`s a winter wonderland inside the Wintergarden. O Tannenpalm, O Tannenpalm! The dark side of Christmas: undocumented elves working in sweatshop conditions. Would you accept a present from this guy? My girlfriend came over to help me trim the tree.

December 17, 2004
`Honey, we need a NEW house.` `Bricks are cold - bricks are cold - bricks are cold.` `Merry Christmas! Stay out!` `You there - boy! Down there! I say, what day is it today?` Not very a-peeling.

December 18, 2004
For those of you not fluent in squirrel, the raised paw and thrashing tail mean `I`m gonna hurt you`. Saint Nicholas struggles to maintain relevance in an age of mail-order catalogs and Internet shopping. Somewhere there is a Native American with a tear running down his cheek. Maybe it`s not solid enough for skating but I`ll try it . . . My biggest fan.

December 19, 2004
I had this to contend with on my windshield this morning. Next year`s Christmas card. Winter has fallen. I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see. J.R.R. TOLKIEN Merely a polite snowfall that didn`t overstay its welcome.

December 20, 2004
Nice and sunny, and two degrees. This computer says DEC 20 all year, not just on December 20. Today at school, I got to dissect a mouse. This isn`t snow on my car, it`s salt. This is as far as my holiday decorations go. My hall has been officially decked.

December 21, 2004
Heavy snow is expected tonight. Lobby trees. `All aboard for Christmas Village!` `Vandalize THAT, ya punks!` Life imitating art imitating life.

December 22, 2004
Black and white photography can be so compelling. This was not just a nice polite snowfall. I risked my life to come to work . . . . . . so that I could be of service to empty chairs. Oh well, at least I wasn`t the only one who had to work. Neither rain nor sleet . . .

December 23, 2004
I had this to contend with on my windshield this morning. [I hate winter.] After 90 minutes of work, my car is clean -- but going nowhere. [I hate winter.] I didn`t want to end up like this guy. [I hate winter.] MY PETUNIAS!! [I hate winter.] The neighborhood arctic rescue dog stands ready. [I hate winter.]

December 24, 2004
After a second day of digging, I`m just about able to move my car. [I hate winter.] My neighbors have a snowblower. Well . . . GOOD FOR THEM!! [I hate winter.] Melt. Please. Please, please, please melt. [I hate winter.] My footprint. [I hate winter.] Not my footprint. [I hate winter.]

December 25, 2004
For me? Oh, that`s so sweet. You really shouldn`t have. For me? Oh, that`s so -- huh? They`re not for me? Led by troublemakers Donner and Blitzen, the reindeer leave Santa stranded after years of exploitation. Take your shoes off and sit up close. Wild animals struggle to cope with the heavy snowfall.

December 26, 2004
Frigid blossoms. Have I mentioned that black and white photography can be very compelling? I`m not shoveling up there. Silent night. Almost time to go back to work.

December 27, 2004
Fifty-eight degrees on Friday? You wouldn`t kid a fella about that kind of thing, would you? It`s only the most abundant substance on the planet -- and we`ll sell you some. Seen through a glass darkly. Blank stares. Venting my anger at not being able to go outside and take pictures.

December 28, 2004
And this is one of the small ones. I hate to name names. Elevate me. The ghost of Christmas past. `What is it, grandpa?`

December 29, 2004
I dare you to stick your tongue on that. Personally, I would`ve flown south long ago. Shivery shrubbery. Sure, it`s pretty, but so inconvenient! Don`t do this -- it`s bad luck!

December 30, 2004
I dare you to push that. If shoveling the snow isn`t effective, there`s only one alternative: explosives. `Waahh! Get my balloon down, daddy!` Pretty, and you can drink it too. Only 47 more days until Valentine`s Day.

December 31, 2004
`I`m melting, I`m melting!` `I`m not melting!` Do I look good in red? Freeze-dried blossom (see December 26). Mmm - I just wanna put a big handful into my mouth.

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