Amble to Annapolis

Two schools in Annapolis, the Naval Academy and St. John's had a croquet tournament today. It is a unique annual festival welcoming the summer. They tell me St. John's wins the match every year. Much later tonight I went to the 9:30 Club with some friends but I had a headache and decided to go home. I was expecting to relax but my neighbors are partying. At least they're normal people.

Sub-Standard Iced Coffee/Reliable Air Conditioning

Today I went with Kat to try the iced-coffee at Caribou Coffee. It's definitely not as good as the coffee at Swing's. It tasted like watery instant coffee, Kat agreed. But, she said Caribou has an awesome air conditioner ... and they did. Kat is from Boston and goes to the Corcoran for fine arts. Behind her in this photo is the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, formerly the Corcoran Gallery.

For the Main Course, Heart Burn

These are my friends Maris and Andrew. We went to Haydee's Salvadorian Resturant tonight for some heartburn. I am still burping. My buddy Andrew had to leave the table after a few bites to get some Tums from 7-eleven. We went and saw a show at the 9:30 Club, Sleater-Kinney. They were a pretty rocking girl-band. But there is a big difference between music fueled by testosterone and music fueled by estrogen.

Prize-Packed People

The auditorium was too crowded to fit in by the time I got to the awards ceremony. I waited outside in the warm sunset until the ceremony was over and they opened the doors to the wine and food. My small talk phrase of the night was, "I never won an award ... I don't pride myself on that though." I also made up excuses and special "circumstances" on why I wasn't eligible for any awards. This is Dan Hicks. He won an award excellent enough to strike a Beach Boys pose in the south atrium of the Corcoran Gallery.

Talking Sports

Ross Franklin, Washington Times sports photographer and instructor of my sports photography class, talks about photo placement and the layout of the sports page. To my knowledge, everyone who's ever had a class instructed by Ross has had nothing but good things to say about him. That goes for me too.

Two Different States

This is Ana and Arianne in sports photo class. If you know them at all you know where they're from. Ana is a native Hawaiian and Arianne is a Texan. The symbolism and good character of their states seem to show through in their personalities. As you can see here they are both beautiful people.

If I Had a Hammer

I walked past the new World Bank Building construction site today. I talked to a carpenter, some brick masons and a nice security guard lady with a pink helmet. When I think back I remember the common things that I discuss at construction sites. The building under construction, weather, mishaps and near-mishaps, union and non-union, how much the tower crane operators make (I hear approx. $40/hr.), are all the subjects of conversation. I walked down to the National Mall with some other students from school and threw the Frisbee and sat in the shade trees near the Smithsonian. Later, Stereolab played at the 9:30 Club and it was a great show.

Class Action

Doctor Bernard Welt and class take some time away from the classroom to talk to a primitive form of artificial intelligence, Eliza.

. . .

Mike Pattisall has been a D.C. area photographer for 10 years. He came by the Corcoran to give an afternoon workshop on flash usage and techniques. None of us had met him before, but you can always learn from someone with experience ... and we did.

. . .

Andy Grundberg, chair of the Photography Department at the Corcoran, stops to chat with Hatnim, a Fine Arts Photo student. Grundberg is New York Times photo critic, and a prolific author of books on photographers and photography.

Problems with Technology?

This is my friend and former instructor Casey. I went over to his house for the first time today. It seems like a great place. Much better than my place. I thought I wouldn't mind living in a basement apartment ... now I feel like I live in a cave. Casey has high-speed internet, unlike myself. It was on the blink though while I was there. "Isn't that always how it happens," said Casey. I showed him the internet forecast on my cell phone. The weather was great today.

Spring's Color

I had to re-shot some studio photos at school. I ate a trout sandwich on my walk to school. Much later on today I realized I left my new credit card in Baltimore, and cancelled it. I first noticed its disapearrance when, after eating with my friends Andrew and Maris, the bill came. It may be more embarassing than having your credit card rejected. Other than that I've been walking around with a headache all day. I took this picture of a flower in a front yard on Capitol Hill.

Good Show Old Chappys

Hello friends, tonight was a great night out. It was the first night I saw one of my favorite bands, Q and not U play outside of D.C. Yes, Maris carted us to Baltimore's Ottobar in her Explorer. Decahedron was another great District band whom I had previously not been informed of. The night started great ... I even had a girlfriend, Adrianne, for part of the show. After the show while we were leaving I got into so sort of a fight. My knuckles are bleeding and my forearm is sore ... but at least it's not my head. Thanks to my friend Andrew who backed me up against the ruthlessness of late-night Baltimore. Jen and Maris ... sorry for the occurance. Goodnight and good weekend!

No Problem Finding a Seat

I went to see the National Guard recruiter today. It looks like it may be a good opportunity. It's something I'll have to think about a little longer. They advertise a minimmum $8,000 bonus on the internet. Unfortunately they have ran out of bonus money and stopped offering bonuses a few months ago. The National Guard Armory is a huge building ... big enough to have Ringling Bros. Circus in last weekend. During my tour I noticed the basement still smelt like elephant crap. After the recruiter I went downtown to get some work done before my class started. All the chairs in that classroom look comfortable, looks are deciving. They are the most uncomfortable chairs in the school. I should have grabbed a chair off of the caterer going up the Corcoran Gallery's front steps.

Many Indians Vegan for a Reason

I woke up at 6:30 am. I was downtown by 8 am. It was a great day, nice and rainy. In the afternoon it stopped raining. I needed something to eat. My former professor, Casey Smith suggested Naan and Beyond Indian Cuisine, 1710 L Street NW. He claimed "cheap eats." I met him at Swing's Coffee Shop and we were gone. I ate as much as I could, and then complained about the strange chicken pieces I found in it. I guess this place doesn't know what pieces of chicken people like to eat. I would go back, but I'd stick to the vegan stuff. We had a good sports photo class tonight. Our guest speaker was Washington Post photographer John McDonald. It was a great presentation. I was soo ready to get home tonight I unbuckled my belt as I turned the corner to walk down my street. I guess that would be nearly equivalent to taking your shoes off when you get on the bus after a long day.