It has been a while since I have written anything. I haven't had much good to write about. Things have been really stressful to say the least. We have had two deaths in the family; my wife Celeste's grandfather Ken Haas and my Uncle Bobby Barnett both passed away this month.

I have also lost my van. The transmission went a couple of weeks ago, and I decided to go in another direction as far as what to do about transportation. I bought a Nissan Xterra today. It is my first new car, and the first car payments of my life. It is nice having this car, but I am still really uncomfortable about a monthly payment.

With the combination of no longer owning a van and Celeste needing to work less because of needing more time to devote to school, I will be seriously cutting down on art shows this summer. I hope to still do a few, but I will be renting a van for these shows, and I don't plan on doing shows real far away. I am sure I will miss it, and I will look forward to getting back out on the road when Celeste is done school in '09.

On a positive note, I appears I will be doing an exhibit at the Gryphon this April, in addition to my December show there. This show will be entitled "Upward: open spaces of the American Southwest" and will feature photographs from the trip to the Southweast my friend Tim Albertson and I took in March of '07.

More to come this week.


Today's litening: "All That You Can't Leave Behind" by U2

Friday night I went to see a benefit show for Covenant Mercies. Covenant Mercies is a group that among other things helps to build orphanages in rural Uganda to help deal with the children who are abandoned due to the AIDS epidemic there. They send contractors and carpenters from American(who do this pro bono) over to build facilities for the children. It is incredible, and its awesome to see how much they are able to do and not create too much overhead so that what people give actually goes to help instead of paying some one's salary who sits in an office here.

The concert featured the Gerald Veasley Band with special guests John Blake and Rosella Washington. It was incredible. With the exception of Victor Wooten whom I have seen several times, Gerald is the best electric bass player I have ever enjoyed live. He was fabulous, and he played with such joy. John Blake was also great. It always makes me happy to hear Rosella, who is a friend of mine, sing.

Yesterday I developed half my negatives from California. I noticed on a few that there was some light leak from the bellows, which ruined several negatives. I will be sending my camera to Toyo for a new set of bellows and to have them look at the camera.

I am going to start a series of still life photographs this winter. I hope they will open up a new opportunity for me. We shall see.

Today's Listening: "Philadelphia Songs" by Denison Witmer

Bethesda was a lot of fun ad a good way to end my festival season on a high note. I was also able to see my sister and her family. I had stuff for them from California. My niece seemed to like the stuffed sea otter I brought back for her.

I now go into off-season mode. I will be spending most of the next few weeks setting up commercial work and applying to shows for next year. Last year my goal was to try to do more shows. This year, I plan on trying to do less, but making sure I get into the best shows.

My film from California will be returning by the end of this week, so that will be keeping me busy as well.


Today's Listening: "This Desert Life" by the Counting Crows

OK,

I'm home, but off to Bethesda for the weekend for a show. California part one, which was the vacation was great. Final tally was something like 14 wineries visited.

Chateau Julien, Talbott, Bernardus, Heller, Sanford, LaFond, Alma Rosa, Mosley, Shoestring, Gainey, Firestone, Fess Parker, Koehler and Zaca Mesa.

Of all of them, we all agreed we liked Alma Rosa the best, but also had a great time at Bernardus and Heller, and they all make good wine. California part 2, the photography part, was not all that productive, I'm affraid to say. I did take some photographs, and I look forward to seeing what I shot, but I was pretty burned out. I would not mix a vacation ad a photo trip again. It doesn't work for me.

I can't wait until Monday. I get so sleep in and get back to regular life.

Today's Listening: "Beyond the Missouri Sky" by Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny

Quick update from wine county.
I have had some great wine over the last few days. It has been one of the most enjoyable vacations of my life. We went whale watching and saw a humpback whale breech. We tasted wine. We hiked Point Lobos and drove the PCH from Monterey to Santa Barbara. We drank wine. We have eaten some great food. We tasted more wine. Today, we played golf. In the afternoon, we tasted wine. Tomorrow this trip goes from a vacation to work. I will be dropping Celeste, Josh and Lauren off at LAX and I will be on my own for several days. Nothing to do but spend time with nature and make some photographs. I know that Monday I plan to spend in Santa Barbara County photographing vinyards. Tuesday I plan to start making my way back up the PCH. Thursday night I fly home from San Jose. I have no plans other than photographing.

I''l be in touch when I return.

Today's Listening: "Sidways" soundtrack by Rolfe Kent. What did you expect.

I'm back from Louisville.

First off, if you go to Louisville, don't eat the Ketucky Hot Brown. It is a local dish, and one I wish I could forget.

The show had record breaking hot weather. 90+ every day. It felt like July. Saint James Court is a beautiful area. I really enjoyed the town. Sales were good enough to go back again next year.

Tomorrow I fly to California. 12 days i the most beautiful place on earth. Lots of wine for the first half, lots of photography in the second half of te trip. I really can't wait but there is so much to be done before hand. I'll be in touch.

Today's Listening: "Birds of my Neiborhood" by the Innocence Mission

I headed out the door to Louisville. Last weekend, I was in Armonk. It was a lot slower than expected, but I got to have dinner with photographer Robert Barab and here some of his great world traveling stories.
Monday I spent the day with my brother and our good friend Asser. We spent the day restaurant hopping. We hit Brasserie Perrier, Rouge, Snack Bar, 20 Manning and Ansill. I didn't eat anything that wasn't great.
Yesterday I have spent making arrangements not only for this week end, but also for my trip to California next week. I can't wait. Today I shipped my film, tripod and a changing tent to San Jose, which should be there when I land Tuesday. It is hard to plan for a trip next week when there is so much to do this week.

Today's Listening: "Bright Size Life" by Pat Metheny featuring Jaco Pastorius on bass.