1) Weather: It's been insanely dark the last few days. Cliff Mass, Seattle's weather guru, says that Monday, December 7th, was the darkest day in Seattle in 9 years. If this morning is any indication we may break that record again. I've got my happy light on as I type. It's helped me before. Looks like I'll really need it today.

2) Self care: I ( Read more... )

The kitties: Well, Zeke has settled in very well. I am the preferred furniture, and Sophie is the preferred chaser-chasee. I think they're still negotiating territorial issues a little bit. The bed still seems to be under negotiation. Zeke still insists on sleeping RIGHT IN MY FACE, which leaves Sophie to the end of the bed or the crook of my knees ( Read more... )

Every year in the fall, Microsoft runs what they call the Giving Campaign. Basically, it's the company push for charity giving, and employees give like crazy. Microsoft is a pretty remarkable corporate citizen. While most of these efforts aren't inclusive of vendors and other contingent staffers, some are. One of the open efforts is the Cats of ( Read more... )

I've been out and about with the camera a bit lately, and fairly pleased with some of the results. Both last weekend and this weekend, I took mini-trips with friends to take pictures.

Last weekend, I spent some time with CS at the Volunteer Park Conservatory and the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery (Seattle's Civil War-era cemetery), the former ( Read more... )

On Flickr, I've posted a small selection of the hundreds of pictures I took when jackwilliambell and I went to Japan two years ago. I'll be doing a little more of this over the weekend because I've decided I want to get some professional prints made of some of my favorite shots. So go and enjoy, and watch for a couple more posts over the weekend.

It's a little dark, despite my attempts at adjusting it. And they're obnoxious birds, but no one can deny how handsome they are.


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I'm blue. So it seems like nothing that I want will ever happen. I know I'm being myopic. It's just how I'm feeling tonight. I'll feel better tomorrow, I'm sure. But, for example, if my Green Man story (now on submission at one of your finer fantasy periodicals) ever sees print, you should know that the trees in these photographs were its ( Read more... )

Photography: I've signed contracts for short stories and articles in the past, but yesterday was the first time I've ever signed a contract for a photo--for National Geographic! One of their designers apparently sniffs around on Flickr for source material. They found one of my Africa photos--no, none of the pretty wildlife pictures but, rather, the ( Read more... )

Mark Twain sealed his autobiography until 100 years after his death. Time's up (with thanks to the_monkey_kingPhotographer Philippe Halsman believed that people reveal their true natures when they jump. To see those natures, he asked the good and great (including the likes of Salvador Dali, Marilyn Monroe, Richard Nixon, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, among ( Read more... )

I've posted three images on Zazzle, three note card designs. While the price for one card looks high (and I don't set the prices, so I can't change them), when purchased in packs of ten, a discount is applied. Also, through Thursday, Zazzle is having a sale. They're taking off 10.4% off of orders when you use the code TAXDAYZAZZLE. So here are ( Read more... )