March 31st

Kota felt it was appropriate to take a nap in Stuart while the front brakes were replaced.

March 30th

Had an early dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and really loved the lighting. Low ceiling lamps and the last rays of sunshine hitting the wood panels.

March 29th

Kota came to work this afternoon. He has a little wound on his leg as he got bitten and it got infected but it healed very well after he'd been to the doctors. He ha barely acknowledged it.

March 28th

Steve and I went exploring on our own and for the first time ever, found a board to sign where the chalk was provided and we didn't have to scratch around the floor for something to sign with. What a selection we had, I even took a piece for future boards.

March 27th

Luke and Max zooming on their scooters.

March 26th

Just moved the camera with the shutter open and got this cool result.

March 25th

So last night I dropped my f#%@ing camera; it fell off the back of my tripod. I couldn't take a photo of it last night because I was so upset so it's today's photo. The broken glass is my UV filter so I'm praying that the lens isn't damaged. The camera works OK but I have to take it to a repair shop so they can cut the filter out. As Joe would say, "Bloody, buggery bollocks!" So now I'm shooting with a Panasonic Lumix and an iPhone 'til it's fixed. Whatever!

March 24th

Night shooting in Centreville. I actually did no editing at all on this image. The lines are a jet passing over.

March 23rd

The Jackster waiting for Dad to dish up dinner. Looks like he's done with waiting!

March 22nd

I have been waiting a month for this to arrive from England. I was so happy to see it, I kissed the jar. Just can't bring myself to open it yet.

March 21st

Our last visit to an abandoned hospital in D.C. before it's demolished.

March 20th

I cannot take credit for this photo, it was taken by my 3 (nearly 4) year old buddy Max. I babysat him and his brother Luke while Mom worked.

March 19th

A

About to start the first bike ride of the year along the W&DO trail. We did a respectable 15 miles in the time we had. It was wonderful!

March 18th

My friend Jeff returned home today after 10 days in Bolivia. He brought me home this cute little ornament. He is the Ekeko, the household god of abundance. A common sight in Paceño homes, the Ekeko is a demanding god who must be kept happy with regular supplies of alcohol, cigarettes and miniature gifts. In return, he watches over the household, ensuring happiness and prosperity and returning in kind any gift he receives. At the fair each year, people buy objects they desire in miniature to give to Ekeko, thereby ensuring that the real thing will be theirs before the year is out. Originally, gifts to the Ekeko would have been farm animals and foodstuffs, but in the modern urban context of La Paz, miniature cars, houses, electrical goods, wads of dollar bills and even airline tickets and university degrees are preferred to more traditional items.Looks like I'll be busy creating a multitude of gifts in miniature! He also brought me the cute little leather purse which was filled with Bolivian coins to add to my coin collection. Welcome home Jeff!

March 17th

A story today.
Got to work early to find my new keyboard had arrived. I can now read my keys and it has a cool blue backlight. Woo! Then my favoritist colleague turned up with a bag of English goodies for me. So it looked like I had my photo of the day.
Then... as I was Photoshopping my image, I heard a commotion outside my office. There was a dispute in production over a color ink being used, during which one of the buckets dropped to the floor spilling its contents. T Bird, unaware of the spillage turned around and planted both feet into the goo.

 Naturally I found this highly amusing and snapped a shot of a shoe. And to round off the scenario, Billy had to declare, "That would never have happened if you'd been wearing green!". And all this before 9:30am on St. Patrick's Day!

March 16th

So I was at the store picking up some girlie beers with only 64 calories each for the girls night tonight and The Hon says, "Hey, have you had these before?" and points out BODDINGTONS! What's a Brit girl worth her salt supposed to do? Buy both of course! Bods for me and the girlie beer for my buddy... Couldn't wait 'til she came round, had to crack one of those puppies as soon as the front door had slammed shut. Bliss!

March 15th

"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down." My drive to work brought this song by the Carpenters to mind.

March 14th

Our reflections on bubbles frothing in a creek that was racing to the Potomac, overflowing with the rain from the weekend. Steve's crouching on the left and I'm standing on the right.

March 13th

Cool hub cap arrow sign in Manassas Park.

March 12th

Jack O Lantern enjoying some fresh air.

March 11th

We nailed it. Another perfect print on its way to Discovery Channel for their new 'Life' series.

March 10th

A rough twill company logo being sewn onto a fleece for me. Melissa, pick an item of clothing and Billy can do you one!

March 9th

You know it's a bad day when you have to bring work home, and on a LOST night too!

March 8th

Late afternoon in Centreville near Walney Pond. Barb and I were doing a 4 mile route march along a woodland trail.

March 7th

 

Kayaks stacked at a boat yard we passed on our 6 mile hike.

March 6th

Saw this old truck stuck on thge side of the road. Weird, because they're doing major road alterations around it yet have left it here. Must be a landmark...

March 5th

 

Saw this on a car sticker today and immediately printed it on some shirts at work. It's kept me chuckling all day long.

March 4th

 

Melissa at work told me we had a free temporary tattoo order available so I created a dharma logo for Emblemax because some of us are huge LOST fans. They arrived today and here's production proudly sporting their new tats!

March 3rd

 

The Hon got me a first edition print of my second favorite book. My favorite book is Great Expectations by Dickens so that's one first edition that's pretty unachievable! I'm so stoked to have this book, and now want to read it again.

March 2nd

A blown light exposure unit bulb. I never knew the bulb was so complex; now I know why they're a couple of hundred bucks.

March 1st

 

Kota Kat from above in the parking lot.