365 Project - Day 365 - "New Year"

December 31, 2010 - "New Year"

A simple shot to end this project... Black Eyed Peas for the New Year.

Eating Black Eyed Peas on New Year's Day is a tradition dating back to the time of the Civil War, here in the U.S. - and much earlier in other parts of the world. It is thought to bring prosperity and luck in the coming year.

For our family it has been a tradition to eat them every New Year's Day for well over a decade now. We cook them up in a spicy Southern dish known as "Hoppin' John".

We've only missed eating them on New Year's Day once - in 2003. That year turned out to be the single-worst year in our family's short history. We lost a beloved family member... had a car accident which resulted in our car being totaled... bought a new car, only to have the engine die a few months later... our daughter got very sick with a major stomach bug that lasted over a week, then got sick again during the summer... I suffered three (yes three) concussions during the course of the year... and - to top it all off, we had a fire in our house on Hallowe'en night which destroyed 95% of our belongings and kept us out of our home for several months until all of the damage could be restored.

New Year's 2004 we made sure we all ate a double-serving of Black Eyed Peas... and went on to have one of our best years ever!

We haven't missed another year since!

So... tonight I'm wrapping up my 365 Project for 2010 with a simple shot of the Black Eyed Peas I'm about to cook up in a big pot of Hoppin' John - while wishing for a prosperous 2011.

Day 365... the final day of my project... and I can't tell you how incredible it feels to have gotten through this entire project without missing a single day and without having to "cheat" at all! It has been an amazing journey and an amazing year! I can't wait to see what the next one brings!

Happy New Year everyone!

LIFE IS GOOD!

* * *

365 Project - Day 364 - "For Life"

December 30, 2010 - "For Life"

I love my new boots!

Dr. Marten's... "For Life"... Oxblood... Smooth Hardlife... Tall...

They were a Yule/Christmas gift from my wife!

(For) Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 363 - "No Smoking"

December 29, 2010 - "No Smoking"

Walking outside of Molten Java at night... this scene catches my eye.

And so I catch and capture it, to return the favor.

(Life is good!)

* * *

365 Project - Day 362 - "Late Night Coffee"

December 28, 2010 - "Late Night Coffee"

Driving home after a wonderful visit with my brother and his family (including my beautiful newborn niece, Skyler)...

It's late - almost midnight. Roads are icy... slushy... yucky.

Headlights are playing tricks with my eyes.

The heater is making me fall asleep... but if we turn it off, we'll be freezing in a matter of moments.

We need coffee!

Late night stop at a 24-hour Dunkin Donuts full of high-school-aged kids.

Coffee.

Good.

Time to continue on... as our coffee cups rest in the neon-green glow of our car.

Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 361 - "Snow Drifts To My Windows"

December 27, 2010 - "Snow Drifts To My Windows"

The Blizzard of 2010 is over.

Well... at least the snowfall part of it is. The wind is extremely vicious... shaking our whole house at times. And it's cold... very, Very, VERY cold!

Snow-drifts are high... and our windowsills are covered... including this one, in our kitchen.

Snow... lots and lots of snow!

(Thank goodness for pizza delivery!)

Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 360 - "Cookies & Cocoa"

December 26, 2010 - "Cookies & Cocoa"

We're snowed in!

There's a "Level 3 Snow Emergency" in Danbury in effect until tomorrow morning. That means we're not supposed to leave our house unless it's an emergency. Police have been instructed to pull-over and ticket anyone driving... then tow their car.

Lots of snow already... and it just keeps coming and coming and coming.

But that's OK! We have hot cocoa... and lots and LOTS of COOKIES!!!

(Life is good!)

* * *

365 Project - Day 359 - "The Big Guy"

December 25, 2010 - "The Big Guy"

Christmas night... driving home after a wonderful day. Stop off to a little work-yard I know of to see "The Big Guy" himself... looking out into the night... waving to the darkness.

As the headlights of our little car illuminate his antique body, I climb a gravel hill and snap a few photos.

Then it happens... I jump down and end up taking a tumble... while gravel cuts into my palms... the side of my arm... and my leg. Stinging pain, I stand up and laugh at myself... snap a few more photos of Santa and get back in the car to head home.

Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 358 - "Tradition II: Magic"

December 24, 2010 - "Tradition II: Magic"

Christmas Eve... and more traditions.

Watching "It's A Wonderful Life" together...

Reading "A Visit From St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas) before the kidlings head off to bed...

Leaving Milk & Cookies for Santa Claus...

... and our Magic Key... which we hang outside on our front door so Santa has a way in to our house, since we don't have a fireplace or chimney for him to travel down.

Tradition.

Magic.

Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 357 - "Tradition"

December 23, 2010 - "Tradition"

Tradition.

Decades-upon-decades of tradition.

This ceramic Christmas Tree is one such tradition for my family. Made by my Grandmother... it has been part of my family's holiday decor since before I came along. I remember playing with its star topper as a child... and for the past half-dozen years or so it has been part of my own home's holiday decor.

Tradition.

Decades-upon-decades of tradition... continued.

Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 356 - "Oddities"

December 22, 2010 - "Oddities"

Another thing I collect: Bones

Animal bones...

Teeth...

Skulls...

Jaw bones...

Bones.

This one is a jawbone found during a Lughnassadh camping trip in Oxford, CT about six or seven years ago.

Bones.

They remind me of the great Cycle of Life.

Life...

which is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 355 - "Frankincense & Myrrh"

December 21, 2010 - "Frankincense & Myrrh"

I just finished grinding up Frankincense and Myrrh to use as incense for tonight's Yule Ritual.

The aroma fills the house as music fills the air.

Life is good!

* * *

UPDATE (09/21/11): MY PHOTOGRAPHY IS ON TV!!! This image is used in the History Channel documentary "The Stoned Ages", which is about the history of drug use. About 17 minutes in to the documentary they use this photo while talking about the use of Frankincense in Ancient Egypt.

The show's producers contacted me last month requesting to use the image... and I had to sign a form granting them permission/rights to do so for this documentary only. In exchange I get placement in the end-credits. I wasn't sure if they'd actually use it or not... but I'm watching it now - and it's there!!! :-)

* * *

365 Project - Day 354 - "Through The Looking Glass"

December 20, 2010 - "Through The Looking Glass"

I can't seem to find a picture tonight. I'm looking, but nothing is jumping out at me.

I come across the spotlight lens I "permanently borrowed" from a concert venue recently... and started playing around with it. Then Holly starts playing around with it too.

And there was the photo... looking right back at me!

Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 353 - "Tree Trimming"

December 19, 2010 - "Tree Trimming"

We FINALLY put up our Christmas Tree!

(Life is good!)

* * *

Don't Ask... Don't Tell

Saturday - December 18, 2010

Sitting in the Holiday Diner. Get the update on my iPhone that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" has FINALLY been repealed. A rainbow appears on the table as the sun shines through the window next to me...

Apparently God really did want this to happen the whole time!

(lifeisgood)

* * *

365 Project - Day 352 - "Coffee Break"

December 18, 2010 - "Coffee Break"

A day spent shopping for presents...

But first, a coffee break at the Holiday Diner.

(Life is good!)

* * *

365 Project - Day 351 - "Snowflake"

December 17, 2010 - "Snowflake"

There once was a tiny snowflake who dreamt of being exactly like his big brother.

Then some stuff happened.

Then some more stuff.

Then... in the end... it turned out he had to be unique. Just like everybody else.

The end.

* * *

365 Project - Day 350 - "Radio Ga-Ga"

December 16, 2010 - "Radio Ga-Ga"

I collect old radios. From a 1940s Bakelite Philharmonic which doesn't work anymore... to a 1970s RCA stereo which still sounds great.

Maybe it's the look...

Maybe it's the sound...

Maybe it's the nostalgia of them.

I don't know why... I just love old radios!

* * *

365 Project - Day 349 - "Self Portrait with Oven"

December 15, 2010 - "Self Portrait with Oven"

Can't find anything to photograph...

Can't find anything to photograph...

Can't find anything to photograph...

... wait...

... there it is!

(It was in the oven the whole time!)

* * *

365 Project - Day 348 - "Standing On My Head"

December 14, 2010 - "Standing On My Head"

Today I sort of feel as if I'm standing on my head...

... and the whole world is upside-down, inside-out, and backwards.

* * *

365 Project - Day 347 - "Plastic Passion"

December 13, 2010 - "Plastic Passion"

I found this little vintage plastic Nativity Scene at a thrift store... and for a dollar, I just had to have it.

OK... so it's technically not "The Passion"... but it IS plastic... and, well... you get the idea!

* * *

365 Project - Day 346 - "Hoping and Dreaming"

December 12, 2010 - "Hoping and Dreaming"

Quick run to the grocery store for some half-and-half.

My son stands staring at the gum-ball machine as we check out.

Staring. Hoping. Dreaming.

Eyes on the prize.

* * *

365 Project - Day 345 - "Amy Makes My Knees Freeze"

December 11, 2010 - "Amy Makes My Knees Freeze"

Saturday night in the East Village. Walking around with a Guinness and Sangria buzz. Stop for a moment. Light and Color catching my eye.

"May Makes My Knees Freeze".

Hmm.

Smile... Capture... Move-on.

(Life is good!)

* * *

365 Project - Day 344 - "Purple"

December 10, 2010 - "Purple"

Petals?

Portals?

No...

Paper.

* * *

365 Project - Day 343 - "Gabbage"

December 09, 2010 - "Gabbage"

The garbage can in the back room at work is full of cabbage leaves this morning.

Garbage + Cabbage = "Gabbage"

* * *

365 Project - Day 342 - "Mind-Blur"

December 08, 2010 - "Mind-Blur"

Having a hard time staying awake today.

My head is fuzzy.

My brain hurts... but I don't have a headache.

Does that make sense?

I guess I'm having a Mind-Blur...

* * *

365 Project - Day 341 - "Cracking Skulls"

December 07, 2010 - "Cracking Skulls"

Strange sounds are coming from the kitchen at work...

I think Patricia is butchering a body... cracking skulls and breaking bones. I'm worried!

I go in to investigate...

It turns out she's just cracking a coconut... trying to get at the water.

Phew!

The last thing we needed was our Produce Girl going postal!

* * *

365 Project - Day 340 - "Buying Long Underwear"

December 06, 2010 - "Buying Long Underwear"

Standing in line at my least-favorite store...

Buying long underwear.

(lifeisgood)

* * *

365 Project - Day 339 - "Pasta"

December 05, 2010 - "Pasta"

I love pasta!

(lifeisgood)

* * *

What next? Any ideas?

* * *

My "365 Project" is drawing to a close. Today will be Day 339... leaving a mere 26 days of photos.

What next?

Do I start the project over on January 1st?

Do I come up with some other form of project for 2011?

I don't know.

I'm open to suggestions! So... if you've got any ideas, let me know via a comment to this post here on my blog!

* * *

365 Project - Day 338 - "Lady Porn"

December 04, 2010 - "Lady Porn"

I'm standing in the narrow aisle of a paperback exchange, waiting for my wife to make her selections.

It suddenly becomes apparent to me that what surrounds me is actually "lady porn"... that is, "porn for women".

I chuckle to myself... and snap a quick shot.

Life is good!

* * *

365 Project - Day 337 - "MIA"

December 03, 2010 - "MIA"

Shot from the hip of the POW-MIA flag on my porch.

* * *

365 Project - Day 336 - "Candy Dreams'

December 02, 2010 - "Candy Dreams"

I just can't stop eating these things!

(lifeisgood)

* * *

365 Project - Day 335 - "Self Portrait w/ Blur"

December 01, 2010 - "Self Portrait w/ Blur"

Can't find anything to shoot tonight.

Searching...

Searching...

Searching...

... Nothing.

I guess I'll turn the camera on myself and see what it captures.

* * *