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Like most weeks, this past week consisted mostly of working.  The really nice exception, is that we were able to A) go to a really fun 4th of July part at Jenn & Baron’s place, and B) we had a party at our place on the 5th to celebrate Taryn’s 29th birthday!  A good time was had by everybody at both events, in spite of the summer rains which dumped both nights.  Friday night they even lost power and we had to resort to ghost stories by candlelight.  Saturday we kept our power, but I personally got soaked while grilling… but it was totally worth it.  Lots of food was eaten, lots of mojitos/margaritas were drank, and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.  Taryn’s phone rang off the hook on Saturday, with calls from all over the world to sing to her. :)  I’ve already started thinking of what we can do next year….

IMAGE: While working this morning at Third Place, I talked Hide into stepping out front for second to enjoy the beautiful weather.

For the first time that I can remember, my birthday wasn’t on the Memorial Day holiday. I don’t know exactly why, but I missed having a three day weekend to celebrate my 40th birthday. We turned it all into a festival of sorts anyway, with at least three different functions (two dinners out, and a cookout at our place) over four days, which were all great! I don’t feel any different than I did last year or the year before, but it’s always good to take the time to appreciate all the great things happening in your life, and the great people around with whom you share it. I’m blessed with terrific friends and family, and I want you guys to know that I realize that. Thanks for being there!

IMAGE: My friend, and a damn fine photographer, Ethan Hyman at the Memorial Day Cookout Kleinstack held.

Well, Taryn is back in South Africa for a month and I’m on my own again.  I am not a fan of this, but I can’t help but be happy for her to be with her Dad and Gran.  I know how much it means to her, and that makes me happy.  Then again, she’s not here to share things with, or joke with, or just sleep next to her.  Missing her makes me sad, but I’ll live.  Lucky for me, there is a ton of work on deck, so I’m going to keep super busy.  Lots of consulting, photography, and house work will get done during this month.  At least that’s the plan.

IMAGE:  This is the parking deck courtyard at the RDU airport.  I had just dropped Taryn off for her flight, and the image of a big empty space seemed appropriate.

I recently returned from the annual trip to NYC for the marathon.  While some folks can’t make it every year, it is a pretty regular group.  Kim, David, Dan, and I were this year’s attendees.  With all “significant others” being absent, the roster mirrored our first trip up a few years ago.  I, as usual, documented the weekend with a couple of hundred photographs.  The requests to see the final photoset began on the flight home.  That was last week, and last night was a ‘Musketeers’ night out with Kim, David, and me.  I picked my favorite 200+ images (under 30% of the images I made) and brought them along in a slideshow.  This image was made on the last day, with me laying on my back on the floor of the Guggenheim.  It is a pretty decent shot, and was worth the strange looks thrown my way.  I doubt if I will post the whole set to flickr, but I’ll probably put up a web gallery of images in the next few days, and provide a link here.

We’re in the city for the weekend, and on day two we’ve spent the morning having Starbucks with Hot & Crusty bagels, and doing home repairs around the apartment for Mr. Potter.  New light bulbs, un-squeeked hinges, and new door knobs and clothing hooks are the order of the day.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the rest of today, but I think some wandering, shooting, and shopping might be included.  A trip to Bryant Park to see the skating and photo exhibit are also possibilities.  There’s also lots of coffee shops and Central Park to try.  Choices, choices, choices.  I have not been shooting much, just a few shots of Mr. P and the city in general as we walk around.  We’ll see what I can find this afternoon.
IMAGE:  This is another image from the light tests while we set up for Halloween.  It’s turning out to be quite a favorite over on Flickr.