Rain

It is pouring
The mail just arrived
Birds are taking cover
Some do not mind the rye
Trains, drops and songs
Fill the early eve air
Cats and circus acts
Keep all entertained
Puddles gather
Friends come together
Renewed to ithe core
The mighty roar does take
No prisoners
Forget forgottens
Remember memories
Till tomorrow
Future holds

The Codes

Spent the day coding my Python final project.
It works, but not exactly how I wanted it to.
I am sure I will spend more time tweaking it.
Now I just do not want to know anything Python.

Ghost Town

It was strange being on campus after classes were over and before exams started.
The most I saw of people were those in my class for our final presentations.
It is almost surreal as a day ago the place was hopping.

Last Day

Another semester gone, but not finished. I have 2 papers, 2 programs and a written exam left. Everything will be finished next Wednesday, the 6th.

I have a week and a half off, then a summer class.

Transformer

I turned my MAC into a Virtual Machine. Instead of swapping out users (which I still could do), I swap platforms. My favourite is sharing files -- drag and drop. So easy. I am still a loyal MAC user, but the world has not fully realized the full awesomeness that MACs have to offer. Maybe it is simply people do not use the machine the same way. Either way I suppose I can say I have the best of both worlds, in one machine.

Time for Change

I saw a pick-up truck with a bumper sticker reading, "Buy China = Bye Jobs". Well that is all fine and great, but I immediately thought of another issue, one much more pressing.

How did China get business? Oh, I know. USA businesses sold themselves like cheap whores only to keep their profits while the USA takes a header into the economic toilet.

Do not blame China or any other country that is profiting of the USA blunders. Blame the USA and the former regime who let the USA fail.


Support the new Presidency and support changes.

Soon Babies!?!

Mallard nest on our property.

Another friend

Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina

Guests

The Mallards were back this evening. They ate some of their breakfast in my yard and some of their dinner. My favourite is when the female walks around shaking her tail feathers. They both had cracked corn on their faces and /or beaks. We also had a bunny eat dinner with us.

We have more birds than any other type of animal, even some migratory birds. The yard is always a lively place.

Portrait

I was digging through some old photos and found some of the sculptures I made about 4 years ago. This is the pre-fired clay portrait I made as my final project for my Figure Modeling Class.

雨

So, it finally rained. I could not be happier. Now I hear it is going to be 70°F for three days. Oh, I have so much to do with the warm weather approaching -- I never thought it would return. What is most exciting? The leaves, baby leaves on all trees and bushes. A couple days ago saw a slow start, but now POP!!!

What to watch

I have this weird thing with films, like so many other people I am sure. I can watch certain films over and over and never get sick of them. They could be super bad films too; it does not matter. Currently I am watching Tremors (1990) because Aliens (1986) is next. I was not allowed to watch The Abyss (1989) yesterday as I have watched it so many times in the last few weeks. So we watched The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), so figure -- I can recite most of the lines of this film too. Well, it was that or Star Wars: Episode V (1980). Really!?!

Duck, Duck, just Duck

Mallard (male)
Anas platyrhynchos

This is the Mallard that landed in the pond yesterday.

The Guest

Today had to be the best day of the year so far; the weather was amazing. I took my camera with me outside and was in the woods by the pond when male Mallard flew in over head and landed in the water ahead of me. Of course he was too fast for me to catch this on video, but I was able to create some video of him while he swam around, quacking.

Vote

There is still time to vote for this year's Webby Awards.

http://pv.webbyawards.com/

SImilarities

I really enjoy reading what other have to say or show the world. I try to look at one new blog everyday, whether it be the "Blog of Note" or some other place. I am interested in what people feel is blog worthy. I am interested in what people are looking at in their corner of the Planet.

I am watching a program on Photography (on Ovation TV), discussing Robert Frank. I find it awesome to see other people paying attention to similar things, composing images similarly, and working because there is a need to record.

Film Idea

We had pizza yesterday for dinner from a little family owned pizzeria. I have talked with the owners, who are brothers, and later thought their story would make a great short film. Since I am taking another documentary class next semester, I think this will be the chance I have to not only make the film, but also show the film. I am sure if I ask the owners they will think it is a good idea too.

Favourite Film Quote

"Bridgekeeper: Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
Sir Lancelot: Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I am not afraid.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your name?
Sir Lancelot: My name is Sir Lancelot of Camelot.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your quest?
Sir Lancelot: To seek the Holy Grail.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your favourite colour?
Sir Lancelot: Blue.
Bridgekeeper: Go on. Off you go.
Sir Lancelot: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
Sir Robin: That's easy.
Bridgekeeper: Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
Sir Robin: Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I'm not afraid.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your name?
Sir Robin: Sir Robin of Camelot.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your quest?
Sir Robin: To seek the Holy Grail.
Bridgekeeper: What... is the capital of Assyria?
[pause]
Sir Robin: I don't know that.
[he is thrown over the edge into the volcano]
Sir Robin: Auuuuuuuugh.
Bridgekeeper: Stop. What... is your name?
Galahad: Sir Galahad of Camelot.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your quest?
Galahad: I seek the Grail.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your favourite colour?
Galahad: Blue. No, yel...
[he is also thrown over the edge]
Galahad: auuuuuuuugh.
Bridgekeeper: Hee hee heh. Stop. What... is your name?
King Arthur: It is 'Arthur', King of the Britons.
Bridgekeeper: What... is your quest?
King Arthur: To seek the Holy Grail.
Bridgekeeper: What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
King Arthur: What do you mean? An African or European swallow?
Bridgekeeper: Huh? I... I don't know that.
[he is thrown over]
Bridgekeeper: Auuuuuuuugh.
Sir Bedevere: How do know so much about swallows?
King Arthur: Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know. "

Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)

Easter

Holidays come and go, but not quite like this year.
Today was just another day, nothing special.
We tried to make something out of nothing,
     but who were we kidding.

End to Hockey

The Sabres hockey season is now over. The team missed the playoff by about a winning game -- so close. It was a good final effort, but just not quite enough. 6-1 over the Boston Bruins is the third win in a row. The off season should be interesting as it is a wonder who will be returning as a Sabre, who will be moving on, and who will be joining, new.

Now to the playoffs and to the greatest prize of them all.

Changing

I am looking forward to the weather changing. It is getting warmer and I am anxious to start gardening. I want to plant all the seeds I have in any available space. All the extra Rose of Sharon will be relocated, but there is much work to be done before I can do that.

Today I bought solar garden lights. I am going to put them out so we can see the bunnies without scaring them with the motion flood light turning on. I am also trying to change all the bulbs in the house, away from incandescent lights.

Photo 449

do

"Deprived of meaningful work, men and women 

lose their reason for existence; 

they go stark, raving mad. "

~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

What do you see?

It is funny, when you stop and notice the little things going on around you. It is better when you notice you noticed. It does not have to be much and it can be anywhere. What is important is to see. It can be a snowflake on your windshield while waiting for the light to change. It can be a hawk perched on a wire surveying its surroundings.

look.

Fallen White

A thin blanket of white,
barely covers the ground.

Newly sprouted flowers,
suspended in ice.

A chill to the bones,
huddle closer.

Big Birdies

I was so excited when I looked up from my computer, out the window, no more than five feet from me, two Mallards [Anas platyrhynchos], male and female, were eating the cracked corn. I was so excited when they landed in the pond, but this close. I took photos and some video. Now I have to put more food out so they will come back. They usually have babies and maybe everyone will come and feed eventually.

Little Squeaky watched the whole spectacle and must of been horrified to see birds bigger than her. Yet she was mesmerized by them. We must have been a sight.

eMail

i find it amusing.

various accounts,

gathering,

various bits of digital information,

some important, but most not.

colourful labels and stars,

filtered, and flagged for another day,

a day that might never come.

yet there they all sit,

waiting if they will be picked,

discarded,

saved.

why do we bother,

wading through,

looking for what,

a letter from a lover,

a mother,

or rejection,

a newsletter,

buy this,

save that,

SPAM,

trash.

Hide-n-Chipper

[Edit: Let me try this again.]

I played hide-n-seek with a chipmunk. While taking photos of the birds and squirrels, one of the usual chippers came by. It was eating some corn I left out, I took a photo, it was startled by some of the birds and it ran up the drain spout. Now I felt bad because water was flowing from the spout. All of a sudden it peeked out and around the spout to see if I still watching, and quickly disappeared. This happened about 3 times before it gave up and just ate.

Yellow Drum Machine

I saw this in class this morning.

drink

free 

coffee 

week 2

water filtered

through grinds

steam rising

sugar flowing

stir

to the lips

careful

contents hot