Dec 31, 2013

I spent the last day of the year mostly in bed, feeling lazy and bored. I went to the gym with Ryan in the afternoon, but I soon returned home and felt like lying in bed some more. I debated for a while if I wanted to go out for the night even though I knew I did. So I got up and went to Darcy and Chris's party at their house. I was not aware it was outside. Good thing I dressed warmly.

I brought my Rumspringa beers, which were all really good. They did a Pollyanna where everyone regifts something so I brought my second pair of slippers I got and I ended up leaving with some kind of wine preservation spray that I still don't really understand. It was fun to watch though.

We all gathered around the the TV for the countdown. People clapped. Then we resumed drinking and hanging out around the fire. It was so damn cold outside. Converse are not made for cold nights. I hung out with Johanna most of the night and took her home so she didn't have to worry about driving (read: so I didn't have to worry that she might drive.) It was a fun time though, and I'm glad I went out. Happy new year!

Dec 30, 2013

For the first time in quite a while, Ryan and I actually got to go to Blue Mountain to ski between Christmas and New Year's. We got up there a little late, but once we got bundled and did our brief Bambi legs on the skis, we were right back into it. The snow was mostly manufactured so it had that soft and fluffy quality to it that makes it a little annoying to ski in sometimes.

We spent most of our time going down the diamonds this time, eventually racing a couple of times down one of them. That was a lot of fun. We only went down Paradise twice this time. The snow machines were running all night so the lifts looked like we were viewing terraforming on some distant planet. It was a good first day of skiing for the season and made us look forward to the next trip.

Dec 29, 2013

I went to the gym with Ryan in the morning. No better way to celebrate a 30th birthday than to workout with my best friend. Really. After the gym we went to Kate's to play Pandemic. We played a few games with varying degrees of success saving the world. I think I liked it better with just the two of us. Maybe it was the day.

Kate and I picked up Chuck and headed to the American Sardine Bar to get dinner and beers. I had Anchor's Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2013 and Deschutes' Black Butte Porter. Both very good. We had some delicious food and left with a growler of a white beer on nitro to drink when we got to the parking lot at Starland.

After sitting in the lot for a while drinking and listening to music we came inside to see a nice crowd including Winnie the Pooh! I haven't seen this guy in years! He used to come to all the pop punk and ska shows up in north Jersey at Birch Hill and Starland. It was nice nostalgia seeing him.

The Starting Line played great, but their set seemed a little short. Everything was a lot of fun though. They didn't break out any songs that were really unexpected, but they left out a few that I did expect.

Regardless, it was an awesome time. I know I've seen them at least twice before on my birthday so it's a nice tradition and a cool way to enter my thirties. I think. 

Dec 28, 2013

I had a wedding shoot less than a mile from my house in the morning. It was a nice change to not have to account for the two hour drive to get where I was going. I met the bride and groom for the first time at the church, and they had me wait until they were ready which was about ten minutes before the ceremony started. It was an easy pre-wedding shoot.

The ceremony was nice and pretty short. I couldn't go directly up front to shoot, but I got most of what I needed from the back and sides anyway. We did some awkward group shots in the front of the church before we left.

The reception was at the American Legion two blocks away. Also nice. There were video games set up to play and SNES cartridges on each table as part of the centerpiece. It was pretty sweet. The DJ wasn't sure what was going on and I became the conduit between the mother in charge and him. At least that gave me something to do. It was a pretty boring and forced reception.

No one danced. Pretty much at all. The video game area was well-used at least. I was pretty bored for most of the night and there wasn't much I could do. It was easy and should make for an easy edit, but damn. I could have danced.

I was already dressed for it so I met Gaby at Italian Affair in Glassboro once I was done with the reception. I knew what I was getting before I looked at the menu, so I just practiced my Italian, which is really bad. I ordered the Gnocchi formaggi di Spinaci. I think that's close at least. It was as delicious as I remember it being.

At some point while discussing dessert and my inability to eat anymore there came a piece of cake with a candle in it and I joked that they knew it was my birthday. Until they put it on the table I really had no idea or expectation that it was really for me. I guess when I went to the restroom Gaby had told them. It was a nice surprise.

We wanted to do something after dinner so we went to Pitman and had a walk down the storefronts and beyond. After walking around some of the houses with lights we sat in the park near the miniature recreation of Pitman in lights for a while. There were kids being weird, but otherwise it was a really nice night.

Dec 27, 2013

I got up a little later than expected, but I got ready and headed up to Ringing Rocks County Park north of Philly. It was a long ride up, but I listened to some good podcasts and got there at the same time as Joanna so that worked out well. It was a quick walk to the main attraction. There is a boulder field with rocks that apparently ring out when you strike them with a hammer.

We tested that out and it appears to be true, but not quite as pronounced as I expected. It was still a cool sight with the light snow covering the rocks. She tested out a lot of the rocks while I watched on. Once the novelty wore off, we headed down the path where a waterfall was supposedly hiding.

We got to the waterfall where there was still some water streaming through the ice and it looked awesome. I had to carefully climb down over the icy rocks to get a good view from below and I was happy I did. It was an amazing thing to stand and watch. A beautiful winter scene.

We went over to Nockamixon DGC next. We had played here before a couple years ago and I had a pretty good memory of it. The course is challenging, but playable. It doesn't feel like you have to drive more than once, which is a complaint I have on some longer courses. This one is nicely laid out and rocky at parts.

It weaves in and out of the woods, up and down hills, and over a few water hazards. We both played pretty well considering the cold and difficulty of the course. I had quite a few drives I wasn't at all happy with, but I felt like it had to do with the weather and my hands being dry so the disc slipped. I made up for it with some really good ones at the end.

We went over to Tinicum Park next, which we had also played before. The taller grass had been cut so the field shots were just wide open now. Not too interesting. Hole 7, which is a tree-lined straight shot, is one that I had remembered doing really well on last time. I did not do so well on it this time. I was about done with disc golf for the day by this point so we quit after hole 9.

I came home and got my equipment ready for the wedding tomorrow and then just chilled out for the evening. I continued watching White Collar, which I started last night and have really been enjoying. Gotta love Netflix.

Dec 26, 2013

I went to the gym with Ryan in the morning where we did a leg circuit followed by a jump rope/sit up circuit and then a strictly jump rope interval at the end. When we were sufficiently sweaty we went home for a while before meeting back up to go up to the rock gym. It was a good visit even though it was really crowded. We did a few fun routes including a difficult orange on on the near wall. I want to do that one again already.

When I got home I watched some White Collar, the next show I'm watching, and then went out to the store to pick up a few things. Jen is always talking about cookie butter so I had to get some of that. It's so damn good. I went over to Brenda's to look up information on a Groupon trip to Costa Rica. It looks pretty good so as long as we get the dates we need I think we're a go!

Dec 25, 2013

Christmas. I was awoken by talking in the living room, so I got up and exchanged gifts with my dad and grandmom. I gave my dad a photo of the Devil's Hole from Oregon, and I gave my grandmom a typing software so she can learn to use the computer on her own.

We went down to Tracie's house after a while so my dad could present me with my gift: an awesomely packaged sampler from Rumpsringa Brewing. It came with a growler (sadly empty,) coasters, a glass, and four bottles of their finest brews. The Christmas Ale is the only one I haven't had before, but it will be nice to have them in a larger quantity than just a sample this time.

I went to my mom's next to have dinner and exchange gifts as well. I gave her a photo of the Pittsburgh Skyline. She seemed to love it. Aiden wanted me to come play with him so he could show me all of his new toys in his room. 

We hung around downstairs talking about a bunch of things from electronics to healthcare. I was there for a few hours before I came home and took a nap. When I woke up I basically spent the night finishing up Burn Notice and eating broccoli bread. The series ended nicely and I was off to sleep right after.

Dec 24, 2013

I went to the gym with Ryan in the morning, avoiding any exercises that involved me peeling the skin off my hands even more. We did back exercises with the machines mostly. I went to his house for a short while after that to play some Mario 3D. Neither of us were feeling it for too long so we called it quits and I went home to exchange gifts with Kate. I got her a Clown Shoes beer, a Wolf, and a Doctor Who scarf that she loved. She claims she will wear it all the time.

 I was quite happy with my gifts from her also. She got me a putter from New Belgium Brewing, an MxPx shirt, a bottle of wine, and a camera lens bracelet. I don't think I've had an MxPx shirt that I've actually worn in a long time so that will be nice. And maybe one day I'll drink the wine, though I still have a bottle I got last year.

I finished up editing the photos I needed to get done and then had a nap. That's how my hair got awesome. I sat around watching Burn Notice most of the evening and then I felt like I had to get up and do something.

It was pretty cold out, but I decided to go for a run. I ran around the neighborhood in some different directions and some old directions. I was really enjoying myself listening to Proper by Into It. Over It. I ended up running 6.4 miles in just about 60 minutes. I was pretty happy with that. Ryan came over and we went for a walk in the same neighborhoods, but I was freezing at that point. I felt fine while running, but I think being sweaty and not moving as much was doing it. I had on a coat over my hoodie, jeans, and gloves and had my hood over my beanie and was still cold. Damn the winter!

Dec 23, 2013

I got up early and did some more photo editing before meeting Ryan at the gym for a twenty minute session of jump rope for 30 seconds then 5 marine squats. While the marine squats were surprisingly easy for doing 100, my hands got torn up from the carpet and I had skin hanging off of them. Nice, right?

I met Steph at Starbucks and got some kind of sweet drink that the barista recommended. I've been basically just asking for suggestions at coffee houses and taking the first thing that they say just so I can try something new each time. It was a caramel... something. It was good anyway. We hung out and talked there for a little while then went to Best Buy and Dick's to get last minute Christmas gifts/decided again that I wasn't getting iPhone 5s just yet.

We went up to PB's next. They had the Just IPA so I started with that and then moved on to the Sweet Baby Jesus. Quite a nice selection of beer they have right now. We stayed there for quite a while as I milked my last beer and avoided ordering any food. After sitting around talking for a lot longer we headed out and I introduced her to Childish Gambino on our way back home.

Later Gaby came over to watch I Love You, Man. Somehow she had never seen it, and I obviously couldn't let that stand. Fortunately, she loved it and was quoting it before it was over. We had a few beers from the Sam Adams winter sampler and watched some Parks & Rec before she headed home. I particularly like the Juniper IPA, but the Chocolate Cherry Bock tastes just like a chocolate covered cherry and it's awesome.

Dec 22, 2013

I spent the morning working on some photos I needed to edit, then I met Ryan at the gym for a leg workout. We did squats and some other exercises then walked on the treadmills at an incline for ten minutes or so. I picked up Brenda and we went over to the Silver Run trail for a nice long walk in the rain with her dog. It wasn't raining that hard, but it was enough to get wet. That was a lot of fun. After getting a shower, I picked her up again and we went to see The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. It was really good, but now I want to watch the original Lord of the Rings trilogy.

After the movie I came home for a short time to eat and then headed up to the First Unitarian Church to see Saves the Day acoustic. Even though the two guitarists were playing acoustically, it was still very much a rock show. They put the same energy into this set as they do any other, playing all of the songs we wanted to hear, including some that were unexpected. 

After a wedding proposal, they played "Nightingale" to the newly engaged couple and then a crowd request set. It's so great that they do that. After a whole bunch of songs the band left the stage again, but Chris came back to sing one last song with just his guitar and no mic, so it was a giant singalong and a perfect way to end the night. 

Dec 21, 2013

I went over to Kim and Chester's in the morning to meet their new human, Courtney. Clearly, she took to me right away.. ladies. But seriously, she was cute and pretty much slept the whole time I was there shooting.

As per uszjh, we did some ridiculous photos with farm things. I took pictures of them on tractors, near corn cribs (which I didn't know was a thing until this morning,) and of course, with the cows. I need to bring some city people out here to take some photos just to see what they do.

I met Jess in Philly at Spring Garden School No. 1, an abandoned elementary school north of downtown. We easily gained access through an open window in the back and were soon quietly creeping up the stairs and through the mess of hallways.

We heard someone on the second floor so I said hello and a guy came out, said hi, and then moved on. I felt the threat had been neutralized. I could tell he was a nice dude, so I wasn't worried anymore about a homeless guy with a broken bottle coming to stab us. All good. We went up to the roof and shot some photos of reflections and the skyline, enjoying the view.

The cage on top is a cool, unique feature. We slowly made our way down the floors, checking out the different rooms. Few were picturesque, but it was certainly interesting to see what had become of the school. I was surprised there were so many books still all over the building. We encountered our friend again, who was taking wiring or pipes out of the walls to sell, I presume. We exited through the basement, giving instructions to several girls who were just making their way inside. We checked out another building nearby, but we couldn't find an obvious way in so we called it a day.

I went over to Sedgley, where there was a tournament going on and a ton of people playing because the weather was so nice. I chose to come to The Abbaye instead. I got a Fullers ESB, which was perfection, and the seitan cheesesteak. I chatted with a guy at the end of the bar until Jordan and Phil showed up to hang with me. We had a good time talking and Jordan really liked the Sweet Baby Jesus! Food and drinks and friends was good.

Joanna met us there and hung out for a while before going to The Foodery and then Soy Cafe, where I got a green tea coffee or something like that. It was cold. And it was pretty good. We spent an hour or so there before it was time to head over to the show.

We went over to Union Transfer and waited for a while near annoying people until The Early November came out. They played through The Room's Too Cold in full, which was awesome almost all of the time. The last track didn't really play well live, but the rest of it was fantastic.

Ace said something like, "Oh we forgot to turn on these Christmas lights during that whole set.. If you guy hang around we might come back and play another one." And then they did. They played a decent amount of songs from their other albums. The new songs all sound so good live.

They closed with "Every Night's Another Story" of course. It was a great ending to an awesome show. The crowd was great; everyone was having a good time and being cool. Ace was as grateful and happy as always and I left with a big smile on my face. I love those guys. I didn't miss missing the Brand New show at all. This band never disappoints.

Dec 20, 2013

I "worked" at Lakeside again for the music teacher. I had one class in the middle of the day where we watched Stomp Out Loud. I still like it even though he leaves it almost every time. The kids were much better this time. I got Chinese for lunch and watched Aziz Ansari on Netflix until it was late enough in the day to go home.

I came home for a while, staying inside instead of going out to enjoy the warmer weather. I met Ryan at the gym later and we did some weights and other upper body resistance stuff in between hand stands and cartwheel trials. We both went home for a while and then met up later for a walk since it was so nice out. I wore shorts and a light hoodie and felt good. I was even sweating a little before we got back.