On November 8, 2003 there was a total lunar eclipse which was visible from most of North America (so I’m told by my NASA sources). I wanted to write about it at the time, but, well…
Yesterday, I received an email from my mom’s friend, Pete. (Hi, Pete!) She must know what astronomy geeks my mom and I are. She happened to mention that she couldn’t see the eclipse from her home in California as we could in New Jersey because it was too cloudy there. So, for Pete’s sake (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one.), here is a series of photos taken by none other than my mommy. It’s neat to see them all together and see the moon’s progression. Click the pictures to enlarge them.
For further info and pictures of this lunar eclipse, here are a few sites:
November’s Lunar Eclipse – this is the Astronomy Picture of the Day website from NASA (which happens to be what I have my home page on my browser set to. I told you I was an astronomy geek!)
IF I WERE TO WRITE about the art of writing, my words would fail to carry the true substance of the issue. They might convey my thoughts, but not the love.
Case in point: “the love” of writing. It is not just love. It is also passion. Excilerating and possessive at the same time. Never mind that he has only slept three hours the night before. Fitful sleep at that because his mind was rushing with ideas. When the inspiration, the muse, the demon is upon him, he must write. Rest escapes him. He knows that he will pay the price in a few hours when his responsibilities drag him from his pillow with the dawn. Yet, it does not matter than his eyes burn and his brain is bleeding down the back of his neck. He will drink his strong coffee and savor it as good wine, or maybe morphine. He is content because…
Because he has written. He has made words. He has taken of the common stock of linguistic supplies and made words. His words. He has turned them, chiseled them, tapped them into place. He has struggled to find the right words. They may not be the fanciest of words. They may not be the most popular of words. But they are the right words, for they are his. He has made them.
Perhaps his words fall into the mind or heart of a reader and take root. Perhaps the reader feels some of the author’s true mind in them. Maybe the reader is moved to tears, maybe to laughter. The reader may be left with an urgency to know more, to know who, to know why. The writer’s words have transmitted life. He is satisfied.
Yet, of deeper satisfaction to him is the process of writing itself. His mind conjures ideas and half thoughts. The ideas incubate until finally their hour has come. The writer must write. He must give birth to new words. Once his literary child emerges and stands tangibly before him, he is satisfied, or at least relieved of its burden to a great degree.
Is it not at that point that several new ideas enter his mind to replace the one he has just sent forth? The act of writing has itself inspired the writer. Each time he writes, he desires to write again. Such is his love of the craft.
Was it so with Salinger? Steinbeck? Kerouac? Just to pull a few names off the shelf. Did the love and necessity of writing grip them and refuse to let go until they scrawled out their words?
I do not know. I do not much care. It is so with me. There is satisfaction in making words. Whether appreciated or neglected, received or rejected, I love to make words. Sometimes the writing turns out well. Other times not. Someone else can judge that matter. I only know that I would betray my very being if I did not write. My satisfaction is in the making of the words.
26 Things is a photo scavenger hunt project. Participants are given a list of 26 words. Their mission is to photograph subjects to represent these words.
The following is a description of the photos I took for this project. I used a Sony Mavica digital camera. A few of the photos required numerous shots in order to get them just right. Many friends and family members contributed to this collection of photos either by offering ideas or by posing as subjects. Many thanks to all of them!
High Point High Point – This photo was taken in Annandale, NJ. It was an extremely windy day. However, this horse must have been lame. No matter how hard the wind blew, it didn’t move a bit.
Familiar Familiar – Taken with sepia effect. Plenty of books. Plenty of movies. Plenty of pics of my kids. And a never-made bed.
Too Much Too Much – The idea for this photo came from my daughter, S. It’s a large housing development made up of big houses set too closely together. This is in Pohatcong Township, NJ. So much of this land that was once open farmland when I was a boy has been developed. It really is too much.
2 PM 2 PM – Just a sense of humor here.
Shadows Shadows – This is a black and white photo of S in a large concrete pipe.
Layered Layered – This is one of the man-made walls of Round Valley Reservoir. It’s not actually layered. But the lines in the grass and the concrete drainage system give it the appearance of being so.
Three Three – How convenient for a niece to be turning three when I needed a photo to represent three!
Contemplation Contemplation – I contemplated for quite some time on this one. Finally, I had the idea to take this photo in black in white with the candle giving just enough light onto this professional model’s handsome facial features. **cough**
Warning Warning – Along the railroad tracks in Washington, NJ.
Electric Electric – Not much to be said here. Just an electric meter.
Sharp Sharp – Wanna come over for dinner? I’ll cook!
Red Red – A diner in Washington, NJ. I lucked out to find a red truck parked in front of it on the day I went to take the photo.
Reflection Reflection – This is Frank Zappa and me reflected off of a window full of smiley faces. This was taken at the Mansfield Township School.
Movement Movement – This is my daughter, H, showing me some of her great swimming abilities in the summer.
Soft Soft – When I stopped to take a photo to represent “old,” I found a small marshy area nearby, along a road that I travel so often. Sometimes you can find the best subjects for photos right along your every day travels if you just take the time to look for them.
Cold Cold – This photo was taken by my seven-year-old daughter, M, when we were in the car on our way to the movies. It was a rainy, cold day.
Close Up Close Up – I discovered this green light on the side of a building in Washington, NJ around midnight recently. It is not over a door or anything. It is just on the side of the building near the back. I had to balance on some gas pipes to get this close up shot. I have no idea why this green light is on the outside of this building. Since taking this picture, the bulb has been replaced with a red one. Maybe green was too inviting for crazy midnight photographers.
Old Old – That is exactly what this little building along Route 57 in Mansfield Township is. It is falling down and useless. It has been there as long as I can remember.
Team Team – What an “odd” team! But they sure do get the “job” done! My how those two cuties in the middle make those guys look bad!
Oversized Oversized – This photo has not been tampered with. Those bulbs are actually that large! I just had to buy them to hang from my bedroom ceiling! No, I am not the main subject to represent “oversized” in this photo. And, no, I am not naked in this photo. At the least, I do have socks on.
Intimidating Intimidating – Don’t get in his way! He’ll hurt ya! I know. I played football with him a few times! Owwww… my ribs…
Culture Culture – This is a wooden Vietnamese figure given to me by a Vietnamese friend. I find that it is easier to carry on a conversation with a real Vietnamese girl than it is with a wooden one. Somethinng to keep in mind.
Energy Energy – Fire. Just your basic energy here, folks.
Famous Famous – Two redheads clowning around here! Boy, did we have fun taking this photo! This Ronald figure is inside a Wal-Mart store nearby. We Snyders don’t mind making a scene now and then. If you hang around us long enough you won’t either. Our beautiful model here is living proof. She knows how crazy we can be and fits right in with us. However, we were one step ahead of the poor dear. We got her to hug Ronald and face away from us so we could see the back of her head. When she did it, we quietly scattered, hid among the ladies’ clothing section and waited to see how long she would stay in that position before realizing that we weren’t there. People were walking bye and looking at this young lady, so in love with Ronald McDonald and seemingly all alone. Ha!
Community Community – The Usual Suspects online forum. Plenty of good stuff and good people here. This is where I found out about the 26 Things project, as well as others.
The End The End – That’s it, ladies and gentlemen. We bid thee adieu and end this gallery with a Snyder butt. Butt nothing! It’s over! THE END!
26 Things is a photo scavenger hunt project. For more information and descriptions of the pictures in this gallery, please see the journal entry by the same title.
What am I doing today? It’s a beautiful day out there. I’m staying inside. I’m content with that today. I’m working on an article for the journal section of the website. As well, I am working on a photo gallery and article for the 26 Things Photo Scavenger Hunt Project. The deadline is tomorrow. So, for today, I am happy to stay inside my little cave, my own creative retreat, nestled high upon the third floor of the house.
Now I must get back to etching that scene of the woolly mammoth hunt on the wall…
