The Daily Drink

Facing my darkest fear…

Warren County NJ 07/30/06 @ 6:01:13 PM I can’t explain it but ever since I was a small child I’ve had this extreme fear of hot air balloons. I had never seen one up close until this weekend. I had reoccurring dream of getting stuck in a hot air balloon with no hopes of returning to earth. There is several variations of this dream but they all result in me moving rapidly skyward. As the earth grows smaller, and my hopes of ever returning grow cold I awake in a panic. 30 years later this dream still haunts me. < Previous Day<<>>

Where is the back door?

San Antonio, TX on 07/27/06 @ 10:30:12 PM “Hey, Judd Do you remember the Alamo?” Judd, “How old do you think I am?” “Hey, Judd Do you remember the Alamo?” Judd, “How old do you think I am?” I have no idea if the following story is true, but I’ve heard it a couple of times and I have to say that it’s a great story either way. During his Presidency, John F Kennedy was visiting the Alamo and the local newspaper editor was explaining the violent history of the Alamo. While there, a large crowd gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the president. John F Kennedy asked the Editor if there was a back door that he could escape through so not to have to cause a scene. At which the editor replied, “No offence Mr. President, but if there was a back door there never would have been an Alamo.” < Previous Day<<>>

Houston, TX

Houston, TX on 07/26/06 @ 4:55:37 PM All day long the weather fronts battled for the soul of my car. Don’t mess with Texas, but damn who would have ever guess that it rained this much in the long horn state. Two tornados and lots of flooding… < Previous Day<<>>

Taunting me to take a photo

St. Louis, MO on 06/03/06 @ 4:12:47 PM No trip to St. Louis is complete without a trip to the St. Louis’ (free) zoo. Although it might have been more enjoyable if I wasn’t out to 4AM the night before. < Previous Day<<>>

A toast to the groom...

St. Louis, MO on 06/02/06 @ 7:33:12 PM The ring bearer ran off with the gold from my pockets while the flower girl stole my heart but all that was forgotten when the bride made me cry. < Previous Day<<>>

Donald Duck don’t give a...

Edwardsville, IL on 06/02/06 @ 4:44:03 PM I once went to a house party and the invitation explained that you had to have the secret phrase in order to gain entrance. ‘Mickey Mouse is in the house but Donald Duck don’t give a F*ck.” Sad to say, it’s the only thing I remember about the party. Did I mention it was high school? < Previous Day<<>>

Nowhere in particular...

Spencer, IN on 05/31/06 @ 3:07:26 PM A lost set of tracks in the middle of nowhere in particular. < Previous Day<<>>

The deadly wildlife of the Midwest

Alton, IL on 05/30/06 @ 1:12:10 PM We caught this (not so) little critter trying to make it across the road. When I got out of the car to take a quick snap, it did a 180 and charged me. I haven’t ran that fast back to the car since the last time I went cow tipping. < Previous Day<<>>

Lost Rock Quarry

Bloomington, IN on 05/29/06 @ 2:44:33 PM Climbed a barbwire fence for this little shot. Ripped a nice big hole in my new jeans and shed a little blood. The water was unbelievably clear, it seemed as though you could see miles into the deep pits of the old rock quarry. < Previous Day<<>>

Bullets and street signs

Ellettsville, IN on 05/28/06 @ 4:12:51 PM Why do the rednecks take out their aggression on the street signs? < Previous Day<<>>

Future Payback

Ellettsville, IN on 05/27/06 @ 6:06:22 PM I’m going to save this photo of my nephew Robert till he is about 30 to share with all of his Harley buddies. Then I will smile, knowing that I finally paid him back for all the years of abuse that I have endured. If you know Robert, you know what I’m talking about. < Previous Day<<>>

the loan flower of indy

Bloomington, IN on 05/26/06 @ 4:21:51 PM When it's my moment in the sun Oh, how beautiful I'll be but in a normal sort of way Like I am you and you are me - Clem Snide < Previous Day<<>>

Stop me if you've heard this one before...

Kirkland, Washington on 05/19/06 @ 8:31:02 PM I got green and I got blues and everyday there's a little less difference between the two. So I belly-up and disappear. Well I ain't really drowning 'cause I see the beach from here. Stop me if you've heard this one before: A man walks into a bar and leaves before his ashes hit the floor. Stop me if I ever get that far. The sun's a desperate star that burns like every single one before. - Jason Isbell < Previous Day<<>>

Nature numbs the pain

Kirkland, Washington on 05/18/06 @ 6:44:22 PM The day was short but the moment was long. I stayed till the sunset finished and my drink went dry. - The moment was short but the night was long. I stayed till my throat went dry and my drink went numb. < Previous Day<<>>

colors so hallow

Kirkland, Washington on 05/17/06 @ 8:22:25 AM What do children do with these colors so hallow. Yes I know their will is true, but their throats must hurt to swallow. What do children do? I saw some faces today, they smiled. They smiled at me and you by the bay in the maple trees. Nothing in their faces looked real, real to me and you, but I'm gonna keep it with me anyway. What do children do? What do children do? - JFE < Previous Day<<>>

The Flying dogs of Seattle

Kirkland, Washington on 05/16/06 @ 6:02:12 PM A Black Lab jumping into the lake Washington upon his master command. < Previous Day<<>>

Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie Falls, Washington on 05/15/06 @ 2:45:56 PM Midway between Snoqualmie and Fall City, 25 miles from due East of Seattle, the Snoqualmie River cascades 270 feet to crash on the rocks bellow (100 feet higher then Niagara Falls). The day was a day that was created by the gods, for the gods. I was just lucky enough to share in their moment, in their day. < Previous Day<<>>

Two Headed Cows

Buckhead Saloon, San Antonio TX on 05/03/06 @ 6:44:39 PM Don't drink the water! < Previous Day<<>>

Where are we again?

Outside of San Marcos TX on 05/02/06 @ 3:28:18 PM Did I mention that we are in Texas? < Previous Day<<>>

The lady in the alleyway

Off of 6th street in Austin TX on 05/01/06 @ 12:38:10 PM The lady in the alleyway paid us no mind. < Previous Day<<>>

Funk is dead!

San Marcos TX on 04/29/06 @ 12:04:02 PM Funk is dead at least it is in San Marcos Texas. < Previous Day<<>>

Don’t mess with Texas

Austin TX on 04/28/06 @ 12:45:31 PM Don’t mess with Texas, although you might help them out with the high tech gadgets that the modern world has forced upon them. I’m just kidding because, I actually love Texas. Without red states the size of Texas they would have to live somewhere else, like NYC. Seriously now, Austin is my new favorite city and I can’t seem to get there often enough. Keep Austin Weird! < Previous Day<<>>

Byberry State Asylum

Trevose, PA on 02/19/06 @ 12:36:17 PM Byberry State Asylum in Trevose, PA was once an institution of caring for the less fortunate, then a center for research and medicine, is now just a party spot being destroyed brick by brick, a little more every weekend. Built in the early 1900’s stood proud as the largest Asylum for the mentally ill, now just a pile of urban decay. Today the remaining 10 structures closely patrolled by a private security firm. This was as close as I was able to get to the structure, although I plan on taking a trip back in the near future for further explorations and photos.< Previous Day<<>>

Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site

North Seventh St. Philadelphia, PA on 02/18/06 @ 5:56:22 PM The scariest part of our visit to the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site in Philly was the crack riddled neighborhood it’s in and the very aggressive dealers pushing their product. I was literally chased by dealers holding out hands of little plastic baggies while each offering to beat the other-guys price or quality. “2 for forty or 3 for fifty.” The kid with the fresh wound on his face was yelling as the even younger kid next to him was offering three rocks for the nice camera I had around my neck. I didn’t stick around to bargain shop, we jumped in the car and didn’t look back. I’ve spent a lot of time in East St. Louis, driven through Cabrini Green (Chicago) more than once. Been through some scary hoods in Mexico outside of Tijuana and even walked through Compton (Cali) once after dark but this was the worst I’ve seen to date. Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site While living in Philadelphia, Poe went from the high of being a popular lecturer to the despair of learning that his wife Virginia was ill with tuberculosis. The brief and tragic life of the author, his times, and literary legacy are interpreted in the building that once sheltered Poe and his family. Poe’s 6 years in Philadelphia, 1838-1844, were his most productive. While in Philadelphia, Poe penned such classics as “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and poems like “The Haunted Palace” and “To Helen”. In 1844 they moved to New York, where Poe briefly owned his own journal. Tuberculosis took Virginia's life in 1847, drawing it from her slowly after the fashion of this cruel affliction. Poe's subsequent decline was as tragic as it was rapid. In 1849 Edgar Allen Poe died in delirium of "acute congestion of the brain." < Previous Day<<>>

Living on thin ice

Eagle Park Resort, PA on 1/08/06 @ 6:29:15 AM We awoke early to watch the sunrise and I have to say it’s a whole lot prettier when you’re seeing it from this end of the morning. My sunrises normally only came after a long night out, not an early morning up. Might have to try this again sometime.< Previous Day<<>>

and the winner is....

Gosport, IN on 12/30/05 @ 4:36:12 PM Rust wins the battle of time.< Previous Day<<>>

My Own fictional youth

Gosport, IN on 12/29/05 @ 12:02:41 PM Rust prevails on forgotten playgrounds of lives past. While tarnished memories gently fade to black.< Previous Day<<>>

Poke someone’s eye out with that thing

Gosport, IN on 12/28/05 @ 3:32:21 PM From the days when overtly-phallic hood ornaments were a sign of an expensive car. < Previous Day<<>>

The Devil Tree

Edwardsvile, IL on 12/27/05 @ 2:48:40 PM In the Mid-West there are more creepy tails, folklore and urban legends then there are road kill down HWY I70. Upon each visit I try and go back and document the ones I remember and uncover any new ones. Take the devil tree in Edwardsville, IL. The story goes that a farmer killed his entire family, then went to the tree to hang himself. According to others, numerous suicides and murders have occurred around the tree. It is said that the souls of those killed at the spot give the tree an unnatural warmth, and even in the dead of winter no snow will fall around it. A quick search at the library and local newspaper couldn’t support the story, so I will chalk this one up as an Southern Illinois urban legend. < Previous Day<<>>

Dreams of eight-tracks

Edwardsvile, IL on 12/26/05 @ 4:11:03 PM I shifted my weight from one foot to the other it certainly wasn’t the car of my dreams, but the price was right and EZ DAN assured me the mid 50’s were a particularly nice period for Chrysler products in general and besides, finally having an eight-track means I can play all them tapes I ain’t been able to listen to since high-school < Previous Day<<>>

Where have all the wisemen gone?

Edwardsvile, IL on 12/25/05 @ 10:53:04 PM Now who has the frankincense and myrrh?< Previous Day<<>>

Our wallets are now thin but are hearts are full

Indiana on 12/24/05 @ 11:33:35 PM The presents were opened, the songs were sung, the eggnog is gone and only a few things got broken in the progress. All in all it was a great Christmas Eve with the family and we might have to do it again sometime. Happy Holidays!< Previous Day<<>>

Having a blast in IN

Indiana on 12/23/05 @ 10:42:11 AM So, last night while driving around lost in the fog I remember thinking, "I don't remember Indy having all these hills/mountains." I guess I had made a wrong turn and I could see all these outlines of very large/steep hills and I was driving down a very steep incline. This morning I figured out that I had turned into a rock quarry where they harvest lime stone. I had no clue, I didn't turn around until I noticed that I was starting to enter a huge tunnel which turned out to be a the cave/blasting area. The locals tell me that we were lucky that we didn't drive off any of the 300-500 foot cliffs. Are we having fun yet? < Previous Day<<>>

The Fun Starts Now

Indiana, HWY 37 on 12/22/05 @ 11:52:43 PM My wife talked me into visiting family for Christmas this year (Indiana/Illinois), pointing out that we hadn't been back for Christmas in over seven years. I tried to counter with, "but we have been back three times this year already." but it fell on deaf ears. The fun starts now. We made it to the airport with our maximum number of bags, Debbie had called ahead and figured out how many bags we could check, what we could what we could carry on. Then she proceeded to pack the bags to seem splitting capacity. Although I have to admit I can't blame her, it was all of the X-mas presents that we were flying with. To make a really long story as short as possible we made it to the airport, sat on the runway for 2 hours due to seven infants that were on our plane and not enough airmasks for the extra lapseats. No one wanted to get off the plane except for me, but the glare from my wife would have been sudden death if I would have rung my call button and volunteered. We made it to Indy but now it was after 11:30 and the car rentals close at 12:00. We rushed over there only to find out that they were down to two cars, A fire engine read PT Cruiser with no heat and a neon blue one. There was ice on the windows so we were stuck with neon blue one, oh joy!. Now we have an 1 hour drive to Spencer, Indiana where my wifes sister lives. Did I mention the fog? If the onslaught of courageous deers trying jump across the highway wasn't challenging enough, we had to do it in the fog. Anyway, I guess I never would have got this beautiful shot if it wasn't for the previous chaos I mention above. I hope they still have that bottle of Vodka I left in the freezer last June. < Previous Day<<>>

looking for a Christmas tree...

Burlington VT, on 11/26/05 @ 3:13:22 PM I don't think any of these are going to fit on-top of the car but I'm sure loving the new boots. < Previous Day<<>>

Snow soaked truck and wet feet

Burlington VT, on 11/25/05 @ 4:26:19 PM After taking this photo I decided to buy some real snow boots. The low top Chuck T’s I was wearing while standing in 6 inches of snow were not going to work if I was going to be taking any more snow photos. Next stop, the Alpine shop for my first pair of Gortex boots. < Previous Day<<>>

A cup of joe

Albany NY on 11/24/05 @ 6:23:12 AM On our way to see my sister in Burlington VT, somewhere outside of Albany NY we stopped off for a quick cup of Joe. This is where I found this snow-covered tree. It was a true holiday scene, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, standing in 6 inches of snow, while watching the sun ricochet off the red berries through my lens. < Previous Day<<>>

Good-bye, so long and farewell

St. Louis River Front on 11/13/05 @ 1:46:31 AM The moon sets one more time over Busch stadium, this was the last photo I took before leaving St. Louis Monday morning. When I return, it won't be there. The strange thing is I'm not even a baseball fan but yet I feel some attachment to this landmark. Here are some of the other shots from the day. < Previous Day<<>>

Angel of the Wasteland

St. Louis River Front on 11/12/05 @ 3:16:47 PM (While standing between the Mississippi River and facing the St. Louis Arch.) Follow the river road to the right, past the flood wall, past the people shoving quarters into the “loose slots” on the President, past the guy selling crack on the corner who will tip his hat to let you know that he’s packing, past the shanty town made of old refrigerator boxes, past the haunted Union Light Factory, the empty lots littered with used needles and broken 40 OZ bottles, the anti bush graffiti, and there you will find this lone pillar with a rust colored angel. Now kneel down and repent. Perspective Photo < Previous Day<<>>

Union Light Power Plant

St. Louis River Front on 11/12/05 @ 7:02:22 PM A little infrared photography of the old Union Light power plant on the river front, St. Louis, MO. I’ve always loved this building, I remember sitting on the hill above it drinking a couple beers after every Mississippi Nights show. < Previous Day<<>>

Demolition Day: Busch Stadium

St. Louis Busch Stadium on 11/11/05 @ 4:12:45 PM Busch Memorial Stadium, located in the heart of the downtown business district, was completed in 1966. That same year, the Gateway Arch opened on the Mississippi riverfront. Today I watched for a few hours as crews worked around the clock removing the old stadium in order to make room for the new in April 2006. Here are some of the other shots from the day. < Previous Day<<>>

rebellious beyond death

Location: Fairmont, Indiana on 09/26/05 @ 4:28:45 PM Red lipstick kisses and flowers forever surround James Dean's pink granite gravestone, testifying to the enduring allure of the man who, 50 years after his death, remains a symbol of rebellious, misunderstood youth. Sept 30th 2005 will mark the 50th anniversary of his fatal car crash and no trip to Indy would be complete without a stop by the little town of Fairmont to pay respects. More Event Photos> < Previous Day<<>>

Those flames sure are pertty

Location: Fairmont, Indiana on 09/25/05 @ 8:22:22 PM Today after the rain subsided, we hooked up with a bunch of locals who talked us into coming with them to see the annual Fairmont “Flame Throwing Contest”. I wasn’t sure what to expect in fact I was a picturing guys dressed in camouflage shooting bows with flaming arrows into the night sky. To my delight and surprise it was classic cars that could spit flames several feet and quite entertaining to watch. What’s not to like when you have fire, chrome and the sounds of over pimped engines that could power a small city. Just watching made me want to roll a pack of Marlboros into my sleeve, open a longneck bottle of bud with my teeth and yell out a loud as hell, “Yee-Hahhhh!” More Event Photos > < Previous Day<<>>

It's just an ugly old barn

Location: Gas City, Indiana on 09/24/05 @ 8:52:42 AM Everywhere you look in Indiana there is another barn to shoot. It was actually starting to rain while I was setting up the tripod for this morning shot. I had a farmer come up to me and ask what I was doing. I think he was afraid that I was surveying his land for a new Walmart or something, because he was not very friendly. When I explained that I just wanted a shot of his beautifully weathered barn at which he replied with a shrug, “It’s just an ugly old barn. Are you sure that’s what your doing?” I got a quick couple shots and thanked him before the downpour, plus I could still tell that he didn’t believe my story. More Event Photos > < Previous Day<<>>

Can we eat the mushrooms?

Location: Gas City, Indiana on 09/23/05 @ 7:12:12 AM It’s a long story about how we ended up camping in Gas City for the 26th annual James Dean Run. It just so happens that this is the 50th anniversary of James Dean fatal car wreck (Sept 30th 1955) and my first time camping in a tent for more than a couple of hours. Me setting up a tent was probably very comical for the seasoned campers around us in there little meth labs discussed as hard-shell campers on cinder blocks. This was the ghetto of campgrounds or as I learned from fellow campers the “spill over” section of the campground. It was the other side of the tracks, across from the true vacationing campers in their 25K campers with Plasma Screen with Direct TV and air conditioning. We were next to the river, next to the live-in’s, the people that mean it when they call it ‘Home Sweet Home.” The following photo was two mushrooms growing through the decaying picnic table, and the only table for the 30 plus live in’s next to the rising river. The thumbnail below is the tent that we slept in. Our luxury item was a very nice blow up mattress. More Event Photos > < Previous Day<<>>

Blue Mountain

Location: Zion Church Blue Mountain, PA on 08/22/05 @ 5:11:21 PM I pulled off of the PA Turnpike to capture this little church on Blue Mountain. I really liked the way the crooked tombstones played with the very straight lines on the perfectly centered church on the hill. < Previous Day<<>>

Dark Waters

Location: Roosevelt Island on 07/26/05 @ 8:49:22 PM After seeing the movie Dark Water, I was compelled to explore Roosevelt Island. (Note to the photographers that come to this site: Yes, this photo was manipulated in Photoshop. As if you couldn’t tell, I just didn’t want anyone to think I was hiding anything.) This lighthouse at the northern tip of Roosevelt Island was built in 1872 by the same man who designed St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was placed here to help ships get through the dangerous Hell's Gate of the East River. < Previous Day<<>>

Satan’s Kingdom

Location: Satan's Kingdom State Park, Farmington, CT on 07/22/05 @ 3:44:23 PM Satan’s Kingdom Village & Tubbing, the run is about 2½ miles long, and takes about 2 hours which includes the bus ride back to the parking area. The name "Satan’s Kingdom" comes from the lawlessness of a local population composed of prisoners and people rejected from other areas who lived here during the late 1700s. The lands extending west of the Satan’s Kingdom gorge area are referred to as "Satan’s Kingdom Village" I tweaked the colors in Photoshop to make this photo resemble a 1970's horror flick. The bus reminded me of something right out of Sleep Away camp or a Jason slasher flick. < Previous Day<<>>

The Lost Dog of Shelter Island

Location: Shelter Island, CA on 07/16/05 @ 10:10:22 AM Before heading back to the Right Coast I stopped off to look for the "lost dog" of Shelter Island. < Previous Day<<>>

Lost Souls

Location: Down Town San Deigo, CA on 07/15/05 @ 6:52:12 PM Lost souls and the cities that devour them. < Previous Day<<>>

Gary Baseman

Location: Convention Center San Deigo, CA on 07/14/05 @ 3:22:52 PM Gary pushing product at this years Comic Con. < Previous Day<<>>

Morning Dip

Location: Down Town San Deigo, CA on 07/13/05 @ 8:22:18 AM The clouds dipped down to take a bite out of the San Diego skyline. < Previous Day<<>>

The stretch before the wave

Location: Solana Beach on 07/12/05 @ 7:35:24 PM Today was more about driving and murphy’s law than it was about shooting. I was in LA and needed to be in San Diego by 9PM. Sounds easy since it’s only a 2-2.5 hr drive. This isn’t the case when you factor in the CA traffic, two dyslexic drivers with adult attention disorder. We turned the trip into a 6.5 hour drive and only managed to shoot about 20 photos along the way. This partly due to the very overcast skies and the anticipation of a beautiful sunset that never came. With all that said, I did have this one god like moment while watching this surfer change from his day uniform (dark blue suit, red tie & briefcase) into his after work attire (wet suite and surf board). You could tell he came straight from work to his nightly commune with the big blue. – The life… < Previous Day<<>>

Vacation = Rest and Relaxation. Yeah, Right.

Location: Santa Monica on 07/11/05 @ 11:48:44 PM After a very long day of walking and shooting all over LA it was very nice to take a little break on the very empty Santa Monica beach. Well it was peaceful until the cops and the Helicopter came. With a spotlight in our faces they started blurting, “You are breaking the law, this beach is closed and you are subject to fine and your car will be towed.” When we shielded our eyes from the interrogation light we could see two parole cars, 4 cops and a tow truck right next to our car. We gathered up our stuff and started walking back to the parking lot when the cop with the bullhorn announced, “You will be towed in less than five minutes. I guess this was his way of saying your not moving fast enough. Nothing like a sprint with 25 pounds of camera gear across 400 yards of sand to end a very long day. I’m still in pain. < Previous Day<<>>

Welcome to LA

Location: Downtown LA on 07/10/05 @ 7:51:25 PM The LA locals welcome me with open arms. 4 more days, will I make it? < Previous Day<<>>

end of my world....

Location: Sandy Hook on 06/23/05 @ 2:08:22 PM Exactly where I wanted to be, an uncrowded beach. What you can't see is the six-pack of Corona in my hand and a beach chair hanging from my shoulder. < Previous Day<<>>

Postcard Perfect Creek

Location: Sleepy Hollow, NY on 06/18/05 @ 5:42:09 PM This shot is from a creek that runs behind the Sleepy Hollow cemetery. If you follow the dirt trail you will find the remains of the covered bridge made famous by Irving Washington in the Headless Horsemen tale, Sleepy Hollow. < Previous Day<<>>

Mr Sad Eyes

Location: Center Point IN, Exotic Feline Rescue Center 04/04/05 @ 12:31:43 PM

My wife had been to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center before, but this was my first time. It's buried somewhere on the back woods of Indiana in a very small town called Center Point. If you didn't know where it was, there would be no hope in finding it. Thank god I was with someone who knew how to get there or I would probably still be lost in Indy. This photo is of Mr Sad Eyes a blind cat they rescued from it's owner after over hearing that he was going to shoot the animal and have it stuffed. I'm not a zoo person but this place was amazing. All of the cages were made from simple fencing, you can pet the animals. Although they warn you not to with stories like, "This one here was a famous Las Vegas Lion, killed it's owner in the 90's. You may have seen it on TV." They also have a lodge where you can spend the night, supposedly the cats are really active in the night hours.

They have over 175 large cats, right now they are averaging about 4 new cats a month. They told us that it would cost them almost a billion dollars a year to feed and care for the cats. Luckily local farmers donate a lot of the food they use.

How you can help

http://www.exoticfelinerescuecenter.org

< Previous Day <<>>

Urban Legend?

Location: Edwardsville IL, 04/03/05 @ 3:22:38 PM

Growing up in Southern Illinois I had heard this story about the underground railroad more times than I can count. The story has to do with a restaurant called the 3 Mile House which burnt down several years ago. The story goes like this: There is a fireplace in the restaurant. Supposedly if you look into the fire after dark you can see the eyes of slaves that had lost their lives, the slaves that never escaped. There was supposedly a trap door behind the fireplace that led from the 3 Mile House to the St. James cemetery about 1/2 mile away. The story said that the underground railroad ran from the fireplace too the gazebo in the center of the cemetery. A couple of years ago I started thinking about this strange story and wondered if it was true. Not finding anything online I wondered why I never tried to look at the gazebo. If there was ever a secret passageway in the cemetery if would be easy to spot. The other day I caught myself driving by the cementaery so I pulled a quick u-turn. Sure enough I found that the gazebo had a basement. Although it was filled with misc. junk I could tell that the story may have some merit.

More photos to come.

If you know anything about this, please email me....

Sent in by Nsane3 3-Mile House

< Previous Day <<>>

Whats missing in this photo?

Location: Hilton Head SC on 03/22/05 @ 7:43:47 PM

Can you tell what's missing in this photo? Answer: An ice cold Corona.

< Previous Day <<>>

Babies first ocean

Location: Hilton Head SC on 03/21/05 @ 5:32:16 PM

Babies first ocean.

< Previous Day <<>>

My Amityville Horror

Location: Amityville NY on 02/20/05 @ 1:23:13 PM

My wife and I were sitting in dark movie theater waiting for the main attraction to start, Constantine. We were discussing what we should do tomorrow; we agreed that a day trip was in order but where. With a crack of Hollywood thunder I looked up t see a 20 foot shot of the Amityville house and I said, "That's it!"

I know what your thinking but yes it's true, they are remaking the 1979 Classic Amityville Horror.

I don't recommend the trip. The house has been modified and isn't as scary looking as it once was and the neighbors don't take kindly to strangers. We didn't even get out of the car before being flipped off by a neighbor driving by. I snapped a couple pictures anyway, I did drive over an hour here. We then headed to find a couple cold Buds at a local pub called JJ's. We didn't even get two sips into our beer before someone asked where we were from and then called us out on why were would be in town. One of the locals with a cigarette dangling loosely from his lips barked, "That fucking house brings out all the fucking city freaks." 'Not like the late 70's, when that movie was made." I couldn't help but think, oh, just wait for the remake...

As a closing remark I have to say that the house wasn't as scary as the locals.

"By the end of the evening, police investigators would find an additional two bodies, bringing the Ocean Avenue death toll to six. Six of seven members of the Ronald DeFeo family had been methodically murdered as they slept in their beds, leaving Ronald DeFeo, Jr., as the sole survivor of the grisly suburban bloodbath."

The 911 Call.

Couple more shots from Amityville.

< Previous Day <<>>

Made it...

Location: LGA (map) on 01/23/05 @ 5:35:28 PM

We made it back, but it doesn't look like anyone else did. Oh, and "Thank you for flying USAirs."

< Previous Day <<>>

Stranded

Location: New Orleans airport on 01/22/05 @ 3:41:18 PM

Stuck in NOLA as New York gets pounded with snow, last report I heard is a possibility of 30”s . Since I have so much time to kill I’m sitting in the room looking over the 500 plus photos I have taken. I may have to put together special NOLA album because it’s impossible to just pick 5 shots that best represent our trip. The previous four posts are not the “best” photos I took, but the photos that I thought best represented different aspects of our trip and New Orleans.

The Shadow of God – You can buy shots like this one any post card shop but I still wanted a shot of my own. I picked this photo over the zillion photos of the cemeteries I took, just because I thought it was a great contrast, the looming shadow over the bright glow.

Mardi Gra Preparation – Mardi Gra is early this year and Bourbon Street was booming but yet we were too early for the Parades. This is why we made the trek over to Stern studios.

Haunted Hotel – This was just a fun shot. I love long exposures and the long hallway and low angle worked for me.

The Hooker – I took plenty of photos from the seedy side of NOLA but I thought this one summed it all up. A very weathered hooker drinking a beer at 7:30 AM.

See everyone when it thaws, and wish me luck.

< Previous Day <<>>

Working Mornings

Location: New Orleans on 01/21/05 @ 7:38:11 AM

This shot was taken from my hip as we passed a women standing in the doorway of a abandon house right outside of the French Quarter. The streets were fairly empty because it was about 7:30 AM, and I’m guessing this is why she was still in her pajamas.

< Previous Day <<>>

Haunted Hotel

Location: New Orleans, Bourbon Orleans Hotel 717 Orleans Street on 01/20/05 @ 12:22:01 AM

We stayed at the Bourbon Orleans hotel. Little did we know when we booked the reservations that it’s home to more than 17 ghosts, most of which are children. It is considered the most haunted hotel in the city and children have been seen running in the halls and playing inside the rooms. I learned this after a quick internet search and I knew better then to tell my wife who would have made us leave immediately. I kept this from her until the day we checked out and tonight I’m sleeping on the couch, she wasn’t happy. Every chance I got, I would sneak away and roam the halls with my camera. This was the only photo I found anything slightly strange on. I’m sure it’s nothing but a smudge but it does look like something running across the hallway. My wife is now convinced it’s something may have followed us home.

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Mardi Gra World

Location: Algiers Louisiana, Kern Studios on 01/19/05 @ 3:02:13 PM

This is just one piece, of one float out of a zillion that New Orleans will see this year during it’s 53 Mardi Gra Parades. I strongly recommend making the trip over the ferry to Algiers Louisiana to see Kerns studio. I shot 150 photos in the 4 warehouses.

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The shadow of god

Location: New Orleans on 01/18/05 @ 11:58:33 PM

The shadow of god scares the hell out of me.

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NJ Castle

Location: Lakewood, NJ on 01/02/05 @ 2:31:24 PM

Lynx Hall (currently known as the Castle Apartments) is located on Forest Avenue and First Street in Lakewood NJ and will soon be demolished. It was built by Jasper and Rachel Lynch in 1900. Jasper Lynch made his fortune in real estate and was an established golfer and a charter member of the Ocean County Hunt and Country Club. Rachel Lynch was a prominent figure in the Lakewood Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She hosted extravagant fund-raisers, concerts, and recitals at Lynx Hall to benefit her crusade against cruelty to animals. In November, the Lakewood zoning board granted permission to a developer to raze a 100-year-old house on the New Jersey Registry of Historic Places without any discussion of the house's significance.

My photos of the Castle

If you have any info about this castle, please feel free to email me.

Here is a list of other NJ Castles.

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Merry X-Mas

Location: Sandy Hook NJ - 12/25/2004 @ 3:26:07 PM

Nothing like a brisk walk on the beach for Christmas. This lighthouse first cast forth its beam into the night June 11, 1764 and is one of the oldest lighthouses in the US. Having lost some £20,000 due to shipwrecks in the first few months of 1761, 43 New York City merchants revived the idea of erecting a lighthouse on the hook. A plan to raise money was presented to the Provincial Council of the Colony of New York and approved. The funds to purchase the land and construct the lighthouse came from the proceeds of two lotteries. - Read more on the New Jersey Lighthouse Society Page.

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No snow in stowe

Location: Stowe VT, on 11/27/2004 @ 3:06:29 PM

The starting point for our 7 hr decent home. Actually there was some snow, just not that much.

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Two perspectives

Location: Burlington VT, on 11/27/2004 @ 3:24:27 PM

In the middle of nowhere in particular we run into this little file cabinet tribute. I couldn't decide which photo I liked better so I posted two.

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Kill your television

Location: Burlington VT, on 11/26/2004 @ 2:27:42 PM

I'm not against the television but that damn Tivo has ruined my life. The Tivo is like crack, pure addiction.

Here are a couple resources to help you with your addiction.
Turn Off Your Television
Kill Your TV

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Looking for Champ on Thanksgiving

Location: Burlington VT, on 11/25/2004 @ 4:25:05 PM

Looking for Champ on Lake Champlain. Champ Sightings

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Gasping for air...

Location: Downtown Houston TX on 10/19/2004 @ 6:22:24 AM

90 degrees in October, even the art in downtown Houston is gasping for air.

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What a sting...

The Killer Bees...
Location: Houston TX on 10/18/2004 @ 10:19:24 PM

At least one person believes...
Location: Houston TX on 10/18/2004 @ 11:29:4:10 PM

You would have thought that the Astros won the world series the way the people acted in Houston after the victory over the St. Louis Cardinals giving them the NLCS lead. Nothing wrong with a town that likes to party when their teams win (but than again I have to say that, most of the fans carry guns.)

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While taking a leak...

Location: Some place in Indiana, If I told you anymore, I would have too kill you.

While hiking around the woods in an undisclosed location we came across a Tupperware container with the words “DO NOT REMOVE” scrawled across the top. The truth was, I wondered slightly off the trail in order to urinate when I discovered the hidden box shoved between a tree and some rocks. Damn near peed on the thing.

Upon opening it I discovered a zip lock bag filled with little trinkets and a note pad. The note pad explained that it was a treasure hunt and we should take what was in the container and leave something in return. Next we should log what we found a what we leave in return. The interesting thing was the people before us took a cube watch and said that they left some plastic toys and some "cold hard cash" on 04/24/04. The cash was nowhere to be found. Was the cash really left, or taken by some thieving bears.

We quickly dug through our pockets, not finding anything but some lint and a hair band. Damn, what could we leave? “Should we leave cash?” My wife asked when I got an idea of my own. “I have something just as good as cash, my Metro card.” I quickly dug out a slightly warn metro card from my wallet. She logged the item and left a note that the next person to find this little hidden treasure should come check out the entry on this day, at this site.

If you’re the person email me and tell me what else we left behind for you ;-)

My wife thought it was a bad leave behind. She said that someone walking in the back woods of some little town in the middle of Indiana would never have any use for a NYC Metro card. My reply was, ‘Then why the hell are we here, can we go home now?”

Off to the airport, next stop Madison Sq Garden to take photos on the protestors.

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Barbwire and Blood

Location: Lost in the woods outside of Bloomington Indiana 08/30/2004 @ 5:18:22 PM

Barbwire and blood. Whose blood? My blood. This still doesn’t compare to the blood that was taken from me by mosquitoes the size of bubble bees. Blood sucking leaches, I bet I’ll have scares the rest of my life. How did I get talked into this trip...

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Mall Rat

Location: Bloomington Indiana Mall on 08/29/2004 @ 3:18:12 PM

Someday, this will be me. Waiting for my wife while she shops.

The Wrath of a Midwest Mother

Vacation: St. Clair County Art Show 08/28/2004 @ 3:33:21 PM

The little girl’s mother gave me some harsh eyes when I took this shot. I still see those eyes every time I close my own eyes. The wrath of a mother should be avoided at all costs....

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A Belleville Stag

Vacation: Bellvegas IL 08/26/2004 @ 12:51:31 AM

Budwiser is St. Louis and Stag means you crossed over and your in good old Illinois and more specific Bellville. As you can see the place was a bumping on a Thursday night. Can you say, Yea-Fucken-Haw!

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