Iron Fist

I liked the comment that Kerri Anne left for this photo on the Flickr that I had to post it here with that title.  I suppose there is something sort of bleak and zombie-like about it.  Of course, now I’m thinking about a zombie outbreak in Portland and wondering — would a vegan who became a zombie stay a vegan?  I can’t help but picture a freshly undead local stumbling down the street, arms outstretched, moaning, “BRRRRROCOLLIIIII!”

(The above joke may be funnier if you live here.)

If you like the effect in this photo I got it with the Spica app; there’s an associated group on Flickr.

Comments(8)

Over Christmas I sat down and watched my new-to-me copy of Watchmen, and caught a quote by the Silk Spectre which I had to go back and verify in the graphic novel I had sitting on my bookshelf.  In that version, Adrian Veidt sits in his orrery  and wonders aloud to Dr Manhattan whether or not he did the right thing “in the end.”  The good doctor replies,

Nothing ends, Adrian.  Nothing ever ends.

This made me think back a bit to a link that Neil Gaiman posted on the Twitter, to this story about a man who has a quote from Death: The High Cost of Living tattooed on his arm.  The slant on this quote is a bit different:

It always ends.  That’s what gives it value.

I don’t know why I drew the mental connection between these quotes, other than the arbitrary end of this year by those of us using the Gregorian calendar was rapidly approaching.  Also, I probably spend entirely too much time living in imaginary places.

It’s easy enough in the the hectic holiday season and the ridiculous pressure at work to GET EVERYTHING DONE to turn around and write off the entire year as a complete wash, but honestly I had a good year, and I think I’ve laid the foundations for some better times ahead.  Anyway, I did this silly thing with pictures last year because I was lazy, but I think I liked it enough afterward that I’ll do it again.  Here’s my 2009, in photos:

It’s been an awesome year, and here’s to the next one, and they’re boarding my flight so I guess I better wrap this up omg see you all next year!

Comments(14)

I woke up last weekend with a pinch of cabin fever, so I hopped in the car to take a quick drive up the Columbia Gorge.  It’s one of my favorite drives, and it’s just a short distance from the city.  And the colors this time of year are spectacular.

I swear this view will never, ever get old for me.

After uploading this photo, I went back through my Flickr stream and found a few more taken from almost this exact spot.  Here’s one taken last year in September, before the green had begun to give way to the colors of fall.

And another one, taken the previous year to that in late October.

With a view like that, can you blame me for going back and taking these shots again and again?  I can’t wait to take some serious hikes up along this part of state next spring.

Comments(11)

I went to the Greek Festival here in Portland last weekend, at which I consumed (among other things) a great deal of loukoumades.

Really, they’re just doughnut holes. With some honey, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. But when you say their Greek name they just sound a lot more elegant.

I have just been in more of a pictures mood than anything lately, but maybe I should write something.  Tomorrow sounds good.

Comments(3)

I got out of town last weekend, dragging myself from the computer and far out of the way of any cell phone antennas, which made me realize how damn often it is that I plug myself into the internet in one form or another.  I twitched a few times from not being able to see what was happening on the twitter, but with the constant calming sound of a waterfall right next to our campsite I soon happily forgot that there was any world beyond what we could see through the trees.

It’s nice to check out every now and again, especially to spend time with some of your best friends.

It reminded me that I haven’t gotten in anywhere near the amount of recreation I’ve been wanting to this year, which is something I’ll have to remedy soon, because this whole showing up to work thing?  Not real rewarding lately.

But you know, I’m happy places like this still exist and that the Pacific Northwest is still as rugged and beautiful as it is. Next summer is going to need far more days like the ones I had this weekend.

Comments(15)