Daily Photos

< December 2006 >

December 1, 2006
See, the cookies from November 30 survived the night so I could serve them at the Christmas party. Also at the Christmas party, gift bags for every student employee . . . . . . assuming they weren`t on the Naughty list. The gift bags were full of dollar-store delights. One Christmas party down, ten more to go.

December 2, 2006
The denominations of U.S. currency presently in production are $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Bills of $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 are still legal tender, though banks destroy them as they are received. The largest denomination of currency ever printed was $100,000 featuring the portrait of President Wilson. The basic currency designs were selected in 1928, and modified to prevent counterfeiting starting in 1996. ANNUIT COEPTIS: He/God has favored our undertakings. NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM: A new order of the ages.

December 3, 2006
There`s always nice scenery at Cox Arboretum. `It`s not 31 degrees. It`s not 31 degrees. It`s not 31 degrees. It`s not 31 degrees. It`s not 31 degrees.` [Roar] Oil painting by Charmaine Griffith. Assault with a deadly balloon.

December 4, 2006
Singer-songwriter Jewel abandons a successful recording career to become a music therapist in Dayton, Ohio. Christmas carols are more fun with percussion. Simone and Garfinkle. As far as Christmas decorations go -- you`re looking at it. My living room is roughly the color scheme of apple cider.

December 5, 2006
Now you see her . . . . . . now you don`t. I am personally responsible for information overload at the UD library. For reasons beyond my comprehension, there was a twelve-foot pontoon boat outside my classroom tonight. I felt sorry for the poor horse, but also for the humans who had to listen to`Jingle Bells` playing repeatedly.

December 6, 2006
Morning moon. I can`t wait to get one of those hybrid cars. One reason why my pictures have been so lousy lately (the other reason is I`m just a bad photographer) . . . I`ve been working on designing a CD cover and haven`t had time to take pictures . . . But if it makes people smile, then it`s worth the effort.

December 7, 2006
Away in a manger. Do you wear it or eat it? At 4:45 on a December afternoon, everything casts a shadow. 5:07 on a December afternoon. My first Christmas card, and undoubtedly the only one I`ll get that was made by hand.

December 8, 2006
Silently - imperceptibly - while the family slept - it crept toward the house. [See August 26, 2004] After 927 straight days of use, today my camera began to malfunction. This is a serious concern. More updates later. My camera works fine under certain conditions, but they severely limit my flexibility in shooting pictures. There is some disagreement about which way is south. Have yourself an urban little Christmas.

December 9, 2006
Taken at a zoom setting I wouldn`t normally use, but my camera isn`t working right. I guess it looks okay. Though I can`t zoom in very far now, my camera has enough detail that I can crop the image to look like I did. For instance, I was very far away from this guy wearing shorts (in 30-degree weather) but it looks like I`m closer. The secret to success in college is knowing which signs you need to observe and which you can safely ignore. It was too cold for me to stand outside and watch them spell the rest of my name.

December 10, 2006
`The playing of the merry organ . . . ` ` . . . Sweet singing of the choir.` WOW!! My malfunctioning camera could lead me in a whole new direction artistically. Guess what I`m doing tomorrow? No cameras allowed. I will be remembered as one of the great luminaries of photography.

December 11, 2006
At lunch, I just left my change on the table rather than mess with the metal detector on the way back to the courtroom. Why don`t interior designers realize that their designs look stylish now, but will be laughably outdated in ten years? Scenes from the laundry room. It`s hard to predict which images are likely to give me a rush of satisfaction. Photography: it`s a walk in the park.

December 12, 2006
I resisted the temptation of dozens of boxes of chocolate, each one about FOUR FEET LONG. Instead of Belgian chocolate, I`d prefer a kiss. I`m no dum-dum. The Bach cello suites are full of trills, turns and other ornaments. Yeah . . . so? Maybe Beethoven sometimes smiled, but he never did it when an artist was around.

December 13, 2006
Morning in my kitchen. A dull picture, but I WANTED to take it. That doesn`t happen very much anymore. Someday, I really will fall into a pond. And it will probably be the day I`m photographing at an alligator park. Already planning ahead for next year. There`s a sign at the park entrance that says NO PETS. I guess the cat can`t read.

December 14, 2006
OrnaMints, the Holiday Breath Freshener. Gold-plated Shelob. All those years of piano lessons finally pay off. Did you ever see that comedy show `The Kids in the Hall`? Another Christmas party. How many more to go?

December 15, 2006
I`ve been carrying this fortune in my camera bag for months (see September 12) and today it finally came true. Two-dimensional nativity scene. I REALLY wish my zoom lens was working. Chapel chairs. Nutritious candy?

December 16, 2006
A boy and his dog. Have I mentioned that I really wish my zoom lens was working? Man was not meant to fly, but teenagers seem to do okay. Be of good cheer. The perfect stocking-stuffer.

December 17, 2006
Yes, there was somebody playing it. Don`t ask me to explain it. All the cool kids wear Chucks. Without a zoom lens, I would`ve developed a completely different photographic style. On the banks of the Seine.

December 18, 2006
Just bury me now. It`s not really French. Who spoke? `Tis the season. A little light reading before bed.

December 19, 2006
If that`s true, then why am I at work? These bulbs are probably older than I am. With this elevator, just call a memorial service. I`ve been a good boy this year, so I deserve a present. Here are two presents I got today. It must mean I`m sweet.

December 20, 2006
Handmade coral earrings. These baby snowballs will grow to throwing size in a few weeks. Art gallery with no art. Art with no art gallery. Okay, I`m ready for the accordian recital.

December 21, 2006
Italian (Venice) MADONNA AND CHILD WITH FOUR EVANGELISTS, mid-14th century. Giuseppe Cesari (Italian), ADORATION OF THE MAGI, c. 1600-1610. Luca Cambiaso (Italian), MADONNA AND CHILD, c. 1564. Attributed to Michelangelo Anselmi (Italian), THE HOLY FAMILY, c. 1535-1540. Sebastien Bourdon (French), THE HOLY FAMILY WITH SAINT ELIZABETH AND THE INFANT JOHN THE BAPTIST, c. 1660-1665.

December 22, 2006
I think holidays are very boring. The seconds go by slowly. Not much variety on the radio at this time of year. It`s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. UFOs over Dayton. Taken grudgingly from the car, this is a photo of apathy.

December 23, 2006
It`s the thought that kounts. And in despair I bowed my head, `There is no peace on earth,` I said. HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW Left to right. Right to left. How many pages I read today. Have I mentioned I think holidays are boring?

December 24, 2006
NO VACANCY It`s unusual to walk outside on Christmas Eve wearing a light jacket, but I`m not complaining. Cause and effect? I want to fly free, like a ballo-- well . . . The Picture of the Day -- maybe the month.

December 25, 2006
Main Street at 6:00am: not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Well, okay, probably a mouse. Merry Christmas! No batteries required. Today I enjoyed hearth and home. This would be the hearth. This would be the home, although not the one I grew up in.

December 26, 2006
Boxing Day. Rejuvenation will come. This is the way the world is sometimes. Frozen fish. Orange leaf in orange grass -- must be high in Vitamin C.

December 27, 2006
It was freezing cold. What would YOU have shot? If you use a cell phone, this is your fault. I knelt down to make them look like tall columns (and also to hide the sign that said NO TRESPASSING). The word `photography` means `writing with light.` At last I`ve found the book I need!

December 28, 2006
Neon in the daylight just doesn`t do it. A moment before impact. My camera and I are not getting along well right now, but it`s trying. Check out the little gull footprints. This is hanging on my refrigerator already. I`m ready to just get this year over with. If I wasn`t taking pictures, or reading about taking pictures, or looking at other people`s pictures, what would I do?

December 29, 2006
One of the few existing photographs of Thomas Aquinas. I know, I know, I know it`s a bad picture. A new camera has been ordered, so I`ll soon be able to take better shots. Stand apart from the crowd. Curvy bench. Wavy bench.

December 30, 2006
Burn victim. That reminds me: I should really clean my shower soon. I was wearing a light jacket. A moth flew by. The earth is running a fever and there`s little we can do to stop it. Little pond on the prairie. The more there are of something, the less likely I am to take a picture.

December 31, 2006
Remembering Gerald Ford. In a meditative pose . . . since the 11th century. In the bleak midwinter. So I have a rather weak chin -- I make up for it with my enormous forehead. Will he continue this five-a-day nonsense next year???

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