30 June 2008

We’re Off

I’m writing this from the airport so it probably will be posted later. We just sat down to wait for our flight. I haven’t sat down with no intention of doing anything in a good week or two. It’s lovely.

This week has been rough. So rough, in fact, cursing seems appropriate in it’s description… but I’ll save that for a later date. Essentially, I made a sizeable mistake working that last week and thinking one week would be enough to sort out all our stuff and pack in a leisurely fashion. We’ve been burning the candle at every end possible trying get our crap together, over to our parents, over to storage, out to sell, out to give away and into our suitcases. And if you know anything about us Hunters, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that we were up till 4:30am last night packing/arranging. Last minute: It’s what we do. (In fairness to Jess, she’s still sort of stuck in her “trying to pack early” Taylor ways.) And then back up at 8:30am. It’s been a lot like that all week. We’re exhausted… and relieved to know we’re just going to Florida today (we need the decompression time).


Saturday started off the worst, I think. I was already tired and grumpy and the first thing I have to do when I woke up was get in the car and take Dudley (our first born… cat) to his new home. It tore me up. I was basically getting dressed and brushing my teeth and crying all at the same time. That was when the first realization that we’re leaving everyone kicked in and it sucked. I know Dudley will be great where he is, but it killed me to drop him off. It was a bit easier leaving Maeby since we just left her in my room at my parent’s house. (she’ll be moving to Scott’s sometime this week).

We’re on the plane now. I feel good. I’ve got Girl Talk blasting on the 80gig and all my toys in Timbuk2 messenger bag. I may retract this later, but at the moment, I really feel as prepared for this as possible. There are a million unknowns, but God’s got those, so all I chose to worry about were the little things (computer, camera, bags, shoes, etc.) I wear myself out worrying about those dumb things, but at least I can get somewhere thinking about them. I can’t get anywhere thinking about the big things. Anyway, I really do feel prepared. We basically started planning for this 9mo ago(?) and just gradually made our way through the “to get” list. Then when it came to packing, we basically just went through our big box of supplies and divvied them up.


I’m watching Teen Wolf Too now. If you want a nice slice of the 80s, I recommend you give it a viewing. The plot is simple and straightforward and there are countless montages. And it stars Jason Bateman.

That's the Orlando Airport at left. Okay I really shouldn’t drag blog entries out over more than 24hrs. I appear to lose my “focus.” Anywho… more soon.

20 June 2008

3 yrs & 3 days

That's how long I've worked at Civil Site Design Group. And today's my last day. I don't know how often you have a job that you're genuinely going to miss, but such is the case for me. I don't know if the line of work is perfect for me, but I love the people. They're smart, fun, respectful, supportive, and challenging. I'm going to miss them a lot.

This is a quote from My Utmost. I've been saving lines from it over the years. This was the first and one of my all-time favorites. It fills my heart to the brim when I read it.
“Have nothing…” – Never reserve anything.
Pour out the best you have, and always be poor.
Never be diplomatic and careful about the treasures God gives.
This is poverty triumphant.

-Oswald Chambers


This is one of many songs you should listen to: Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leper (mp3)

19 June 2008

The New GIRL TALK Album is Out!

Feed the Animals

Technically, it's a free download! It's just like Radiohead's In Rainbows was; you pay what you want.

- $5 or more gets you the album in MP3 or FLAC + a seamless mix of the whole thing.
- $10 or more gets you that plus the physical CD when it comes out.

I started to buy the CD but I realized I wouldn't get it for 2yrs (cause of the whole "going to Jamaica" thing) so I gave $7.

Get on it! (Listen to it on his Myspace page.)

(Click here for the song listings and breakdown of each.)


UPDATE 1: Just started the first listen through and I'm immediately smiling.

UPDATE 2: Just finished the first listen. What an album. It does not disappoint. This is definitely the most refined album of his to date. As smooth as Night Ripper was Feed the Animals probably blends songs and lyrics even better. It seems to be more of a middle ground between Night Ripper's changing every 5-10sec and Unstoppable's sticking with several riffs for the entire song. As a whole, it feels like it takes its time more than Night Ripper did. He hangs on to tunes a bit longer in Feed the Animals letting you really get the most of the combination but at the same time changing before you even think about getting bored with it. The lyric/song combinations are as seamless as ever.

Once again, no music puts as big a smile on my face as a Girl Talk album. Well done, Gregg.

18 June 2008

A Few from Roo '08

Above

1 of 80,000 (He's wearing Julbo's. What a guy.)

Miniature Metallica

Again, more to come. It's just going to be a slow. Besides the usual busyness, I actually have a paying "client" at the moment.

17 June 2008

We're Alive

The 2008 Dirt Fountain

I think a good time was had by all (even the noobs had fun). So thanks to all my campmates for making it enjoyable (and having patience with my constant photographing) (and for lending us water and tp after we forgot ours).

(More photos to come.)

10 June 2008

Remix Artist Collective (RAC)

I apologize to any regular reader for the lack of posting lately. Everything seems to have taken a backseat during these last few weeks before we head out. I've barely even thought about Bonnaroo. My mind is all over the place.

However, I've been on a music kick lately (as you can see in previous posts) and today's is the RAC (Remix Artist Collective). You've probably seen "(RAC mix)" on a lot of remixed songs over the last few years. Well, this is them. It's a couple guys from different parts of the world. I'm not sure how it works, but I really like their stuff. Check out these remixes:

The Shins - Sleeping Lessons (RAC mix) (mp3)

Bloc Party - Song for Clay (RAC mix) (mp3)

Tokyo Police Club - Be Good (RAC mix) (mp3)


Then, just a few weeks ago they did a session of Xtrabeats on WOXY. It was awesome. I'm still listening to it. You've gotta give this a whirl...

RAC woxy.com 60min Mix (mp3)

Tracklisting:
01 - 5,6,7,8’s - The Barracuda
02 - Capsule - Flashback
03 - Boyz Noize - Lava Lava (RAC Edit)
04 - Tepr - Minuit Jacuzzi (datA Remix)
05 - Siruismo - Wow
06 - Riot In Belgium - La Musique
07 - MSTRKRFT - Street Justice
08 - Daft Punk - Around The World
09 - Danger - 14h54
10 - Shinichi Osawa - Star Guitar
11 - Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler
12 - Midnight Juggernaults - Ending of an Era
13 - datA - J’aim pas l’Art
14 - Yelle - Je Veux te Voir
15 - Calvin Harris - Colours
16 - MGMT - Electric Feel (RAC Edit)
17 - Shinichi Osawa - Electro411
18 - N.E.R.D. - Everyone Nose (RAC Edit)
19 - Justice - DVNO
20 - The Who - Baba O Riley (RAC Edit)
21 - Futurecop - Transformers
22 - Kylie Minogue - Heart Beat Rock (RAC Edit)
23 - Radiohead - Planet Telex (RAC Edit)
24 - Cornelius - Fit Song (The Books Remix)
26 - The Teenagers - Starlett Johansson
27 - Chromeo - Waiting 4 U
28 - Coconut Records - Nighttiming (RAC Mix)
29 - The Beatles - You Never Give Me Your Money (RAC Edit)
30 - Hot Chip - Shake A Fist
31 - M.I.A. - Hombre
32 - Danger - 11h30
33 - Vangelis - Love Theme (Blade Runner)



ps. I'm also a sucker for creative ad campaigns. click here for creative ad campaigns.

05 June 2008

Photography 101.4

There is a continuation on photography basics over on the Digital Photography School blog. If you don't understand "exposure" or "stops" or just want a better understanding of what elements go into what is referred to as an "exposure" (a picture), jump over there and check it out. That blog has endless tips and how-to articles. I've learned many a thing from it.

The triangle to the left (courtesy of DPS) is the essential "what makes a photograph look like it does" diagram. Each of the 3 components has a direct effect on the other. The whole thing is quite mathematical actually! (I enjoy it.)

04 June 2008

Look for Us in Germany!

This is a bit random, but such is life sometimes. I've been meaning to write about this for a while, but things have been... well, I've had to be much more selective with my time lately. Anywho, a few weeks ago this guy from Germany (Andreas) sent me a Flickr mail saying he had a postcard company and was interested in my Christmas card photo of us flying through the air. Not just interested, he wanted to purchase the right to use it on some of his postcards! I still keep the rights to the photo, but this granted him commercial use of the image. Yada yada yada, he said he wanted to pay me 70€, I said "booYAH!," he sent me a form to fill out, and I sent him the photo. Next day, $100 in my Paypal account. Done.

Obviously, this doesn't happen very often. However, this is really the ideal sale: you put your photos out there and someone finds them and says "i would like to buy..." I mean, that's really the best you can hope for. It didn't take any entrepreneurial efforts on my end and since the transaction was digital, I'd already done all the work.

Pretty neat.

(Also, I totally added that text in the photo for this entry. That's a goof. I mean, I didn't goof. It's a goof.)


(ALSO, I got my über Nalgene bottle in yesterday. 48oz of liquid-holding awesomeness. Not to mention loaded with BPA!)

02 June 2008

Can't Sleep

This is an HDR blend of 3exp(osures) and a colored gradient on the sky. Jess stands still very well :)



I haven't done much Photoshopping lately. I've taken a lot of pictures (Scott's graduation, our trip to Chattanooga, etc), but I just haven't found the time to play around. I just feel like there are so many other things I should be doing. I wonder if when we get there I'll all of the sudden have time to get back into it. I miss it. I've got a couple shot ideas pertaining to Nashville and I just can't get out to get 'em.