I have been feeling rather guilty lately for two reasons. 1) I have not been blogging on a more regular basis. This was one of my worries about starting a blog in the first place…that I would not be diligent in my posting, thus loosing any interest by anyone who might be reading. 2) I have not been photographing nearly as often as I should. The bulk of my guilt is directed toward the latter of the two. I guess it is easy to get out and photograph when the weather is nice and colors abound around every turn. However, it becomes much more of a “task” when it is freezing and you know the same things will be there once the weather begins to cooperate. That being said, there really is no excuse for me not picking up the camera and photographing something…anything.

Today I was fooling around with some lighting ideas and realized that instead of researching DIY lighting projets I should first just start clicking away again. But what to photograph? I didn’t feel like driving anywhere, the melting snow and ice never makes for a good landscape shot (at least not in my opinion), and I did not have the resources to build some of the crazy contraptions I had been reading about on the DIY sights. So, I did what any good dad/photo junkie does…I went to the kids.

Now, I would have to say about 2/3 of all the photos on my drive are filled with shots of the boys. It’s only natural to want to photograph those things most precious to you. However, I have been really wanting to try some new techniques and in so doing I would need some fresh shots. Most of the shots we take of the kids are preceeded by “Look here and smile!”. Those are lovely in their own right, but they cover a pretty narrow portion of the emotional range our kids exhibit day in and day out. So, I decided to line them up against the wall (a poor man’s backdrop) and just start clicking away while we talked or while I evoked different memories (don’t worry…none of them were “remember that time you got spanked for hitting your brother??).

Below are a few of the shots I took. As you can probably tell, I did a fair amount of editing on them. I have been very interested in doing high-contrast portraits ever since I saw the movie 300. I like the look and raw feel of the “contrasty” shots. These shos evoke more emotion for me and they seem to glorify the little imperfections that each of us have.

I would love to hear your opinion on them. Like them, hate them, or just don’t have an opinion…it all feeds the creative juices!

While Kacey and the boys were in Texas Evan was introduced to the game of Uno. For those unfamiliar with the game, it is a basic card game wherein you try to match either numbers or colors in order to be the first with no cards in hand. While I was away for work I would get nightly reports of Evan winning game after game (11 games won is the proud record he boasts while in Texas).

Being a bit sceptical and wanting of course to see for myself, we have started playing Uno nightly here at home. Before I travel down this path, let me divulge a bit about my own childhood. Growing up my father taught me how to play chess. I would spend hours playing with him, board in his lap as he watched TV…me carefully examining each move as he would hastily move his pieces about like a salty General…all the while never taking his eyes off the tv. To this day I can only recall one victory. My father refused to let me win and I can see some value in that. However, being at the tender age of six, I saw no value in decimating my eldest progeny all so I could teach him some life lesson he may or may not understand.

It is a good thing I decided to opt out of using my father’s teaching methods because as it stands, I believe Evan is about four games up on me right now! It is both joyous and frightful to see this little mind at work. Employing strategies on each move to put himself in a better position for the next round. However, his most stunning trait of “gamesmanship” lies in his ability to absolutely and unrepentantly talk trash!!

“Oh yeah…you like that move?”

“Wish you knew my tricks huh?”

“Here it comes…get ready!”

All said with the deadpan seriousness of a crusty card shark in the back room of a dimly lit speakeasy! I over dramatize of course, but when it is coming from your six year old son who is beating you like a drum, the gravity of the situation seems a bit more dense!

The good thing is, it is all done and said with fun. There is value to spending quality time like this. Talking, learning, enjoying each others company. However, I think our nightly Bible readings are going to start incorporating more stories on humility!

I saw this story in the news the other day and was overcome with both disgust, but also a glimmer of hope. For those who have not heard this story, basically a guy is ordered by airport and TSA officials to cover up a t-shirt that they considered to be inappropriate. What was on the shirt you might ask. Nudity…offensive language…Osama Bin Laden? None of the above. The shirt had arabic writing that when translated said “We will not be silent”.

*note: This is the second of only 6 posts wherein my ramblings have included a muslim on an airplane. Not intentional…I promise…haha.

Anyway, I can only assume that the airport officials did not know what the shirt said, but I think it’s safe to assume it would not read something like, “I have the triggering device…on the count of three!” Nevertheless, they stated that other passengers were nervous and asked him to either remove or cover the shirt. Not wanting to create a stir and/or be kicked off the flight, the shirt-bearing “anarchist” acquiesced and covered the shirt. However, once he reported this incident to the ACLU a lawsuit was under way and he was awarded $240,000.

I have several questions. First off, how do you value his “pain and suffering” at $240,000? At the most wouldn’t you say he should maybe be reimbursed for the cost of the flight and given a life-time supply of complimentary pillows and peanuts? But 240 Gs? Really??? I think the purpose of compensatory damages is to usually reimburse someone for lost wages or for cost of medical bills, etc. In this case, how can anyone justify that much money for embarrassment…especially when he willingly chose to follow instructions and cover the shirt. He made that choice.

So, this is what I am thinking of doing. I am looking for someone who knows how to write in Aramaic. I want a t-shirt designed that when translated says, “This shirt is going to get me a lot of money”. Then, when asked to cover said “offensive” shirt I will gladly comply and later use the court ordered award to start a t-shirt company with meaningless phrases written in dead languages. The way I see it, if the courts keep forcing the airlines to pay out these insane damages the government will eventually have to bail them out, thus making them public property…then I will literally own them! (twisting my handlebar mustache and laughing wickedly) Who is with me?!?!

Jan 5th was a sad day indeed. One of my favorite websites, jpgmag.com, announced it was shutting the site down. For those not familir with the site, jpgmag allows both professional and amateur photographers to submit their work and the publish a bi-monthly magazine consisting of online sumbissions only. The work submitted by members is often stunning and has been a great inspiration to me as I try to improve in the form. Not only is it a great for inspiration and professional networking, it also allows the amateur community an opportunity to have a photo published.

So, since the site is closing I am in search of a community to post and share photos with other like-minded amateur photographers. Until then, I decided this is as good a forum as any to share some work.

I have been searching pretty hard, so if any of you know of a site similiar to this I would love to hear about it.

One of our Toole family traditions is to take a trip any chance we get. Whether that trip takes us just a few hours outside the city, or requires visas and inoculations we are always grateful for a new adventure and time spent together. This trip was no exception. Monday we headed to Massanutten and spent the past two days snow tubing and swimming in the indoor water park.

One of my biggest regrets of my time spent over in Germany was not learning how to ski. We lived about two hours away from the Alps and I have never been snow skiing! This lends to the explanation as to why we stayed at a ski resort and none of us actually skied. A promise was made though that once the boys became old enough to ski that we would all take lessons as a family, and subsequently fall together as a family!

No Toole family trip would be complete without some type of “hiccup”. On the way home today I felt a pretty bad vibration just outside of Fredericksburg. I knew what the cause was but could not find a good place to stop yet. So, as throngs of passers-by waved us down and pointed out the inevitable all I could do was smile and wave, thanking them until I could find that elusive gas station that is always just around the corner. Once we pulled into the Wa-Wa I unloaded the family and bags stuffed in the back and started my watch!

Now, for those of you who have seen A Christmas Story you might recall a boy and his father changing a tire on the side of the road at night while his father raced with glee to beat his record time. You might also recall that his dreams were dashed when the well-intentioned boy watched in horror as the father sabotaged himself by knocking the lug nuts into the air and all over the ground. Well, our experience was not as dramatic but my hopes of fame as a NASCAR pit crew member have been thwarted.

I had loosened the lug nuts, cleared everyone from the vehicle to a safe watching distance, slide the jack under the frame, and began the vehicle’s ascent. Just as I felt supreme confidence that I was about to break some amateur record known only to other dads trying to get their family back into a warm car…that’s when it happened. As the car lurched forward and came back to rest of the now flattened tire I looked to see what only could be described as horror. The jack had bent under the weight and was now wedged under the frame.

A note to the novice: When searching for a piece of equipment with which to use in changing a tire, leave the family unit for a minimum of one minute and ensure everyone looks as pathetic as possible.

I had gone inside the Wa-Wa to enquire about a spare jack I could use. When I came back after encountering less than “Good will toward men”, I found someone had come to the rescue. I guess the sight of a woman standing next to a jeep withbags on the curb and two snot-nosed boys bundled up next to the bags is just too much for some to bear. Nevertheless, we were aided with a new and functioning jack and were back on the road in less than five minutes. Thanks Ken…wherever you are!

Heading home and feeling like less than a protector and provider due to my mechanical failure, I was getting excited about seeing the boys open presents from the family and having Kacey’s annual potato soup. The rest of our day was spent watching the boys as they unwrapped gifts from the family and played until dinner.

After dinner I sat the boys down to read them the Christmas story found in Luke Ch 2, v 1-21. As the boys listened on intently they began to not only ask questions, but interject at times to fill in parts of the story they already knew. Keagan, my little “Lion Heart” amazed me at his recitation of the angel’s announcement to the shepards to “Fear not…I bring you good news…you wil find a baby…laying in a manger”. As I concluded the story it was then time for my Q and A. When asked whether there was anything we could give to Jesus as a Christmas present, I was filled with joy when I was told that we could love him with all of our heart.

So…even if I don’t get the newest gadget that will end up filling up the basement in a few years (which by the way I did…thanks for the new GPS baby!), or even if I didn’t get a tire changed in under 5 minutes, I will rest well tonight as the kids wait for Santa…knowing that there are two little boys who will wake up tomorrow and know that all the rest of this is just “icing on the cake” of God’s love for us.

I remember in 3rd grade reading a story in class that continued to ask the question, “Where does the butterfly go when it rains?” In this simple story it seemed to create a mystery as to how we never see a butterfly when it rains, but once the sun is back out they magically appear. Well, just as I have always wondered about this minor mystery I have been equally ignorant as to where my electronic stuff goes when it has outlived it’s usefulness.

Part of the reason I have never tried to find out where butterflies go when it rains is because it has no impact on my day to day life. I simply didn’t care (so don’t ask me why I still remember the story)! However, unlike the elusive butterfly the end-state of our gadgetry effects us all. I recently became aware of this issue while looking at a photojournalism piece done on child labor issues in Bangladesh. These kids were working to recycle batteries and the health effects are heartbreaking.

Shortly after seeing this work I saw a news piece about “e-waste” recycling and how nearly 80% of our e-waste is being exported to impoverished countries. Why is this a problem? Doesn’t it create jobs for the impoverished? Yes, it absolutely creates jobs. The problem is that many of those laboring to break down our old computers and electronics are children and are being paid a pauper’s wage for hazardous labor. Most of these electronic items are not being properly recycled. Instead, our e-waste is being shipped off to countries like India, Thailand, and China and are being broken down for the semi-precious metals contained inside. The problem comes with what happens to the rest of the “stuff”. Our computers and monitors have an insane amount of toxic chemicals that are being melted down and released into water sources and thus effecting the health of those living and working in and around those environments.

This is not a small problem. Think about the number gadgets sold in the U.S. alone during this time of year. Now think about what those new and improved items are replacing. When you begin to consider the size and volume of the e-waste being disposed of it is quite staggering.

So what do we do? Do we all go back to the days of carrier pigeons and parchment?  Of course not. I am not sitting her touting the evils of technology. However, I hope this comes as a warning to act responsibly…especially this time of year when we max out our credit at Best Buy and Circuit City. For anyone interested in how to properly dispose of their unwanted gadgets there is a great website that gives more information and offers solutions to avoid contributing to this rising epidemic (www.etoxics.org).

And the answer to the original 3rd grade mystery….under rocks, leaves, and overhangs. I never said I was a bright 3rd grader!

Last week I was on a long flight from Virginia to the Middle East. About the only redeeming quality of an 8+ hour flight is the ability to read uninterrupted. I took my seat equipped with one book I was trying to finish and another I picked up at the all too convenient Borders location inside the terminal.

Apparently I am not the only one who likes to get caught up on their reading instead of watching the latest in-flight movie that you would only watch if you were stuck in a metal tube for eight hours! Another man seated on my row, appearing to be of middle-eastern descent, also came equipped with books in-tow. Being a curious on-looker I started snooping to see what he was reading. What I saw was something that appeared to be some kind of anti-American, left wing propeganda. I could not clearly make out the title but what I saw were “Lies…America”.

What conclusions would you draw?

Well…I pride myself on trying to view all people equally, but I began to question myself when I started wondering whether the person seated two seats away was in fact one of these “Islamic fundamentalist sympathisers” that we only hear about living in places like Deerborn, MI.

Then I began to ask myself, “Am I being fair to this guy? Is it only white neo-cons who can question their government and any ‘lies’ that might be told to us?” In a post-9/11 world what exactly is “fair”. Granted…the guy was not trying to light his shoes on fire or rubbing prayer beads as he began his prayers before martyrdom, so I wasn’t too concerned. But then I started wondering which is more dangerous…thoughts or deeds?

  I happened to note the name of the author of the book that was the focus of all this attention, Michael Medved. Once I got to the hotel I logged onto Amazon.com and did a search for any books by this guy. What I found made me question a lot about myself and about what I thought I knew. The title of the book the man was reading was The 10 Big Lies about America: Combating Destructive Distortions about our Nation.After reading some reviews I was at first relieved to find that this was actually a rather conservative book that apparently takes issue with a lot of the “left-wing bashing” of our nation and provides counter-arguments against notions such as America’s alleged oppression of other nations and its peoples.

After my brief and fleeting relief, I then experienced doubt. Here I was ready to label this guy sharing my flight as an “America hating left-wing extremist” because of two words I happened to catch on the dust jacket of his book, coupled with the assumption that he was of Middle Eastern descent.

If you are reading this blog and you were seated in Row 17 Seat F last Tuesday let me just say I’m sorry. Just like I jumped to conclusions based upon poor assumptions and ethnic stereotypes, I hope you don’t follow my example and judge me as unfairly.