Goodnight and Go

When I was 19 I discovered photography. I had no previous experience in the subject but I acquired a job at a local photo shop. I quickly learned that photography isn't so complicated after all. That christmas I asked for a manual camera so that I could really learn, and my parents scraped the bottom of the barrel to get me one. it was one of the best presents I ever got. the next few months were photo heaven for me. working in a photo shop I had an endless supply of information at my fingertips and I could always spend time thinking about what I would like to take a picture of next.

Interestingly enough, I found that throughout those first few months of learning, my favorite subject to capture was clouds. I was constantly looking up - and I saw sights that simply took my breath away. each night I could ride home on my bike and enjoy the sunset. each day I got to drive around running errands for the company and enjoy whatever was in the sky that day. I just loved the clouds . . . but after not too long I realized that try as I may, I could never capture them in the way that I saw them. That's when I realized what makes nature so stunning. it can only be truly appreciated with the human eye. just as you can not get to know someone by simply seeing their picture, you can not get to know nature without being in it with your own eyes, feet, hands and nose. The smell of a rose will never be duplicated. The majesty of the ocean will never be captured. The intimacy of the mountains can never be matched.

I long to travel up the canyon and enjoy the gentle whisper of the quaking aspens, but I fear that their leaves have most likely already fallen for the season. perhaps I will take a weekend drive just to make sure.

I've been taking pictures for almost 5 years now, and although I don't do it as much as I used to, I still get a sense of wonder when I pick up my camera and start to compose. After crossing upon an incredible photoblog yesterday, I'm feeling particularly inspired to pull it out this weekend and experiment to my hearts desire. Maybe, just maybe, if I get anything good, I'll share. We shall see.

The listening this week has been more deathcab, with a renewed love for imogen heap this morning - hence the title for this entry.

who is cutie?

When I was a freshman in high school I discovered headphones. I would sit up into the wee hours of the morning listening to tori, billy, river, paul and john . . . and occasionally ringo. it was an incredible time of discovery for me. one night I sat and listened through siamese dream, tablature book in hand - and followed along. I listened to each riff and pictured in my minds eye the fingerings, the chords - every bend pull and slide. it was really cool. When I discovered homogenic I discovered surround sound through my headphones. The sounds that swirl around your head during joga are incredibly calming . . . almost unreal. I still have yet to hear anything that even compares to the genius that bjork used when she mixed that album. it still amazes me.

Last night I put my headphones on again. Lights out, I lay in my bed and listened - really listened - to death cab. It was like water to me. I drank it in - and although I had already heard all of the songs, I heard them for the first time last night. I was very impressed by I will follow you into the dark - the message just seemed to click. the idea that you will follow your love into the dark, or death. "If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied and illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs. If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks then I'll follow you into the dark." I think that the peaceful guitar melody stitches it all together perfectly.

Needless to say, by the time I was done listening through both albums, I was hooked. I came into work and downloaded every song I could find from them (I have recently discovered russian mp3 sites - very, very cheap downloads). I've been listening to them all day. all day. I'm positive that death cab has now passed up iron and wine in the #1 spot of my artists list on last.fm. I'm thinking that they will surpass them by far. I just really love what I've heard so far.

This afternoon my coworkers started talking about the postal service - the collaboration project of death cab's lead singer. I'm listening to that now. it's just as good. it ties into the electronic portion of my musical taste. now I have the best of both worlds! rock and robot!

Halloween was a fun holiday. I dressed up as a gypsy with some coworkers. My costume was awesome - if I do say so myself. I got lots of compliments. sparkly shirt, sparkly scarf, sparkly shoes - and the tambourine. it was perfect. That night I went and saw my niece and nephew all dressed up in their boo attire. adorable they were, as always. Bethany is the joy of my life. I love her through and through - no question at all.

I'll be heading out with a couple of mission friends this evening. one companion and one convert. both people that I love dearly. I'm looking forward to it.

It's time to head out now. Wish me a happy weekend.