Is it too early to start getting excited?

(above: Jake and Reagan Playing Horseshoes in Charleston by: Kat)

I have been up to my neck in nerdy stuff, the past few days. A year ago, my brother-in-law and I went into a joint venture on web hosting. Recently it became pretty clear that our current setup would no longer support what we are trying to accomplish. So we upgraded. Unfortunately it has been a pretty laborious process, and we are really just getting started. Anyway, my personal sites have been the guinea pigs, as far as migrating. If there were any glitches, I wanted them to be on stuff that didn’t really matter. And there have been plenty of glitches, hehe. Anyway, if I’m a bit silent over the next few weeks, you will know why. I feel like I’m driving one of those remote control robots trying to cap an oil spill.

…in the words of Ice Cube.

The photo has nothing to do with anything. While we are on the subject, I had about 9 people ask me, today, what is the significance of “Ware 2.” So sorry to disappoint. The answer, there is no significance. Just some dude with a red broad-tip and bad hand style (sorry if you ever read this, Ware 2, but we both know you need some work). The reason for the post: I liked the shots. Not often do I have my good cam with me, while I’m waiting for the NRW. I was supposed to shoot 2 gigs last night. I wasted 2 hours at one, waiting for Russ Simmons and Tyrese to show. I waited so long at the first thing, that I totally missed the other thing.

I was pretty annoyed, but didn’t want to come home w/o any images, since I was dragging my gear around all day. So, I shot the phone, the photo above, and a couple more. BTW, I know a couple of guys who really do take the subway to go surfing. I bet I also know someone who has taken a brown pillow on the subway. Hahaha.

To the point– I was worried that today was going to totally suck. I was up all night feeling sick, so I slept in instead of doing my scheduled run, and the weather forecast called for rain in the afternoon. On top of that, I have almost no clean clothes.

To my delight:

• I found out that the editor of Pop Life Mag is going to run one of my photos from that skate art exhibit, that he saw on Highsnob.
• When I came home and checked the mail, the latest issue of W Mag had arrived, and Eva Mendez (possibly my hugest celeb crush) is on the cover.
• I was feeling well enough to have a decent run, and it didn’t rain.
• Finally…. last the best of all the gang– University of Utah (my Alma Mater) was invited to the PAC 10 athletic conference, today. I was so.. so happy to hear this news. It seems like just yesterday, I was picking splinters out of my arse, from sitting on those ghetto-style pre-Winter Olympic Rice Stadium bleachers, cheering on the Utes at the top of my prepubescent voice. Look at them now

Here are a couple more snaps from last night-

(above: self portrait)

I have been so freaking busy this week. It has seriously been the longest “short week,” ever. I haven’t had time to write anything interesting, or even think anything interesting. I have shot some really good stuff this week, though. It has also been really nice to have such an uptick in movement at my real job. Tonight I finally had a bit of a break, to just do… whatever. Reagan cut my hair, then I watched the BP cam (again), while doing other less important things (like setting up the above shot [which, btw, totally reminds me of this shot]).

The engineers have been able to place the cap onto the severed riser, now. But from what I can see, there is still a ton of oil coming out of every direction, not just the opening at the top of the cap. Several little robot hands are still furiously working on things. Hopefully the degree of spillage will be mitigated to a degree, once it is all bolted on snugly? I’m not really getting my hopes up, anymore. In fact at this rate, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if we find out in August that the relief wells have also failed. If you have the nerve for it, be sure to check out the June 3 “big picture.”

On a much, much lighter note, The New York Stock Exchange finally got their own Starbucks, right on the trading floor.

New York  , June 2, 2010 – Starbucks premier coffee, specialty beverages, and select food offerings are now available on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. A first at the NYSE, the Starbucks kiosk will serve the Exchange’s trader and employee community from 8:00am through the 4:00pm NYSE market close.

Awesome. Now if they could just outfit all of the traders with colostomy bags, they would be totally set.

(above: Peter P. Costa, Empire Executions, Inc. visits the opening of Starbucks on NYSE trading floor [courtesy NYSE])