Some Scenes from Nature

In preparation for our camping expedition we went for a hike in Greenbelt National Park. Some highlights, below.

Locksley: the outdoorsman

I had this brilliant idea that I should go camping with Locksley. So I bought the stuff - sleeping bag, backpack, tent... you know, the basics. I wasn't actually sure how Locksley was going to take to it, but I'm pleased to report he seems VERY enthusiastic about it all.

This evening I decided to pitch the tent inside (this is what happens when I'm left unsupervised in the apartment) since I heard this is good idea for getting your dog acclimated. "Acclimated" perhaps isn't the word to use for Locksley. As soon as the tent was up, he jumped right in and was thrilled by the whole thing. I'm pretty sure he thought the tent was his own personal dog house.

Infact, when I took the tent down he looked rather dejected. Actually. I think he's giving me the silent treatment.

Camping soon, dog. Promise!

Brilliant, Sir Critter.

I tip my hat to you, Sir Critter. What a brilliant idea. Not only is the concept of "classing up" nature hilarious, but the creatures selected to don the top hat and bowtie are some of the most excellent around. A nudibranch (or sea slug, per the website), above.

Ketel One.

Ketel One has new (ish?) marketing out, and I have to say I'm a fan.

Something about the ultra patriarchal tone, the nod to an era of class and style, the black and white super shiny video quality, and bundling it all up with the phrase "...it was last night" (reminding me of those "..in bed!" jokes).



Like the music? Listen to it here:
"Spread Your Love" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
I'm not cool enough to really know about these people, but Sam has a CD of theirs.

Honeymoon?

Sam and I are getting married in October. Rumor has it that you go on a honeymoon after getting hitched. We're considering it. Ideas thrown around have been Germany, Spain, Brazil and Portmeirion, Wales.

More recently, the idea to take a road trip cross country has come to mind (partly because we could then take Locksley). Just to see how long this might take, I googled directions.


Please click on the image for a larger view. And take a look at the directions.

Really, Google? Really?

It's over.

One more semester down. Two things to share:

A website designed and executed (with HTML and CSS):


And an "artist's journal". It is titled, of course, "Design with Spine" and goes through my personal philosophy on design. To make the book I wanted to use actual vertebrae in the binding of the book. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) I was able to find and clean up a squirrel skeleton.


It all turned out rather nicely. Here are a couple tiny photos of the finished product:

GAMERA!!!

We took Locksley to the dog park today where there were several other, really fun dogs around to play with. That was kind of surprising since it's been very rainy here for the past couple days, so things were pretty muddy. Apparently, a product of all that mud was that a snapping turtle was washed into the dog park. One of the other dog park patrons (human! not animal, thank goodness) found this guy looking traumatized under a tree.
I volunteered to take it back to a pond but since the little guy was so dehydrated, motionless and just depressed looking I decided it was probably a good idea to get him feeling a little more spunky before tossing him into an environment where he'd have to fend for himself.
So a trip to the Petstore! A 10 gal tank, some gravel, dechlorinator, and some turtle pellets. He's already acting much better and I expect that we'll release him into a lake in a couple days or so.

Success!

We've survived.
And to show for it, a certificate!


Please note, it's signed by Peter Murphy:

(no, not that Peter Murphy).

Crying Men

I wouldn't say I'm generally a fan of crying men (or women for that matter) but I like a lot of the actors featured.

Part One.
Part Two.