” I HAVE NEVER MADE BUT ONE PRAYER TO GOD, A VERY SHORT ONE: O LORD MAKE MY ENEMIES RIDICULOUS, AND GOD GRANTED IT.”
-Voltaire-
PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A HUG:
THE CHAIR
In one way or another photography has been a very large part of my life or my career since the early 1970′s…yes I have been very fortunate.
I do however have a keen knowledge that the art of photography will pale and become dull at the point you make it your avenue of income.
I’ve worked with photographers who felt they were larger than the work they produced. I’ve worked with photographers that just never understood what their work means to those they photograph. I worked with photographers who really got it…and used the craft to help those in need and bring understanding to those around us.
The deepest emotion can come in the shape of a chair.
I’m happiest when I can produce work for hugs.
Putting off Living?
“ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC THINGS I KNOW ABOUT HUMAN NATURE IS THAT ALL OF US TEND TO PUT OFF LIVING. WE ALL DREAMING OF SOME MAGICAL ROSE GARDEN OVER THE HORIZON INSTEAD OF ENJOYING THE ROSES THAT ARE BLOOMING OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS TODAY.”
_Dale Carnegie_
In the Shadow of the City: Papago Park
A DESERT IS A PLACE WITHOUT EXPECTATION.
_Nadine Gordimer_
(click on thumbnail and I hope you enjoy)
Artemis Self-Defense/FOR WOMEN:
If living in the Phoenix area don’t pass up an opportunity to take a self-defense class from Sensei Julie. She has a very rich background that includes years of using these techniques in the street and teaches from a reality-based program that although serious in nature she and her students have fun learning together.
For more information on her program visit:
NO PLACE FOR OLD MEN
No Place for Old Men:
The F-150 made the slight turn off Ghost Town Road leaving the comfort of gravel for the soft dirt. Just off to the left a few hundred yards you can see the outline of the Congress Cemetery not to be confused with the Old Historic Congress Pioneer Cemetery which is found about a half mile around the bend; tucked tight to the hillside.
“Be prepared as there are several children’s graves. They’re the toughest.” rang the words from the woman who ran the little antique store down the road on Hwy 89.
She was right, one where a toy cowboy pistol had been placed on the small one foot by two foot plot, the plastic handle now bone-white from the Arizona sun.
Almost noon the wind was soft and cool giving a visitor time to dream of life back in 1884 Congress after the first gold discovery. The cemetery followed in 1887, a reminder of a tough way of life and early death.
It is said the mine produced just over eight million in gold into the mid-1930’s. For the most part overshadowed by the gold strikes in California it was said that the mine was visited by Grover Cleveland, the US President of the time because of it’s consistent offering of wealth.
Another tiny wood marker beat by the weather; just tall splinters held vertical by dirt and rock. The wind is warmer and the dust is kicking up as I close the metal gate. I’m only reminded of the old saying that “God protects fools and children.”…I’m guessing surly miners too.
2012 in review: A Wonderful New Year to those that visited and new friends to come
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 8,700 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 15 years to get that many views.
Hudson Dominic Brent Falco
Born November 14, 2012 our first Grandchild.
“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
- Elizabeth Stone -
Poster of an old rodeo:
” MAKE ME AN ANGEL THAT FLIES FROM MONTGOMERY,
MAKE ME A POSTER OF AN OLD RODEO
JUST GIVE ME ONE THING THAT I CAN HOLD ON TO.
TO BELIEVE IN THIS LIVIN’ IS JUST A HARD WAY TO GO…”
-John Prine-
Flag Football: One man and Sportsmanship
” ONE MAN PRACTICING SPORTSMANSHIP IS FAR BETTER THAN A HUNDRED TEACHING IT! “
-Knute Rockne-
You’re not close enough unless you feel the Heat:
” ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THEN
A FEW BECOME FIREMEN. “
-Author Unknown-
The Cowboy Way:
“WHEN YOU GIVE A LESSON IN MEANNESS TO A CRITTER OR A PERSON, DON’T BE SURPRISED IF THEY LEARN THEIR LESSON.”
-Cowboy Quotes-
A Spoon of Salt:
” LET YOURSELF BE OPEN AND LIFE WILL BE EASIER. A SPOON OF SALT IN A GLASS OF WATER MAKES THE WATER UNDRINKABLE. A SPOON OF SALT IN A LAKE IS ALMOST UNNOTICED. “
-Buddha-
AT HOME AND HUMBLE PEOPLE:
” AT HOME I AM A NICE GUY: I DON’T WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW. HUMBLE PEOPLE, I’VE FOUND, DON’T GET VERY FAR. “
-Muhammad Ali-
A view from our new home in Glendale, AZ
Searching for Shadows:
“THE PRESENT IS THE EVER MOVING SHADOW THAT DIVIDES YESTERDAY FROM TOMORROW. IN THAT LIES HOPE.”
-Frank Lloyd Wright-
Wanderlust? Our fourth trip across the country in three years. Our fifth state to call home.Hmmmmm, Arizona a place to call home.
My Monk wears New Balance:
MY BUDDHIST MONK WEARS NEW BALANCE RUNNING SHOES
I can’t really claim him as my monk guessing I have to share him.
Chuang Yen Monastery, Carmel NY
While visiting the Chuang Yen Monastery yesterday, as we were leaving the Great Buddha Hall, we visited with a wonderful monk, Ven. Ji Xing, who greeted us with a smile that would have filled each square inch of that hall.
Great Buddha Hall, Vairocana Buddha is called the supreme Buddha and represents the wisdom of shunyata, “emptiness. He is white, representing all colors and his symbol is the Dharma wheel. He is associated with the first skandha, form. Meditation on Vairocana vanquishes ignorance
He spoke of the importance of the earth and our place grounded, close to the earth, “All things come from the earth! Does the earth get mad when you toss down trash? No” he said. “The earth is forgiving.”
Buddha has a sense of humor…..I hope.
He pointed a sharp finger to my chest. “Do you get mad when I point at you?”
“No, I said.”
“That is good.” he smiled and laughed.
“When someone is pointing one finger at you in a menacing way. They point three fingers back at themselves.”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, you get one finger they get three. Ha, ha, ha, ha. There is no reason to get
mad.”
The teachings continued until he had to leave for other pressing monk-like duties. I’m gong to miss my monk in the running shoes.
Flying Nuts and Too Much Time!
“NO MAN IN THE WORLD HAS MORE COURAGE THAN THE MAN WHO CAN STOP AFTER EATING ONE PEANUT.”
-Channing Pollock-
Nuts, Wappingers Falls, NY 2012
