I did not do much this weekend. Weekends seem to be a blur of sleep, work out, sleep and maybe go out. I never really feel I have much of a weekend because I sleep until 10 am then I take a two hour nap around 2 or 3 pm. UGH. I wish I hated naps. I wish I took more pictures of the weird things I see in Austin. My roommate threw a 1978 themed birthday party for her boyfriend Ed. He was born in 1978. It was fun, but definitely slept most of the day today to recover.

I would like to utilize the UT library more often. It's kind of intimidating. There are like 4-5 libraries. How do I know which one to go to? How do I know what books I want to read? Tomorrow I am going to go to the UT fine art library research Mary Ellen Mark. She is a famous photographer and I was chosen out of a hat to have lunch with her, but unfortunately I have not seen much of her work.

Things I want/like to do in Austin when I have time and (money)

1. UT library
2. Harry Ransom Center
3. Alamo Drafthouse (I watch movies here often)
4. Barton Springs Pool
5. Hamilton Pool
6. Kayak on Town Lake
7. Walk around Hyde Park and take pictures
8. Kite Festival
9. Eat sushi at Uchi
10. Eat ginger crinkle cookie from quack's

I photographed University of Texas journalism professor Dr. Gene Burd for Orange Magazine. Orange is doing a story on professors with interesting offices. Dr. Burd has 35 years of papers and books piled high in his tiny office.

I can only imagine some of my friends who will be professors, what their offices will look like 35 years later.

There is an article in the Statesman on Dr. Burd I particulary liked; however, I cannot find it online. Dr. Burd doesn’t own a car and his daily walks from his downtown condo to UT campus makes him a kind of expert on the growing development in Austin. I really like his quote about city hall and the cluster of condos and ground-floor retail that has emerged around Second Street.

“It’s like a bad marriage,” Burd said of city hall. “It’s ugly but you get used to it.”

What a character! My brief five minutes with Dr. Burd reminded me of my grandfather who coincidentally shares Dr. Burd's first name.

how i love the lights, the music, the trees, the spirit of giving and kindness, even drivers seem to be a little less impatient.

we have a tree. it's handheld with tiny ornaments. i love it.

excited to spend time with family and friends. excited to watch these movies: -savages -ps. i love you -paris je' taime -original elizabeth -Los Lunes Al Sol -Pi -Leaving Las Vegas -American Splendor AND THERE'S MORE!

DECEMBER 13 I'm done. How I enjoy free time so much more when I don't have it. Ok goodnight. Tomorrow is a busy day. costco, campus, work on website for Visual Design class, grading, and lab, and gym. PS. RUBY's BBQ in Austin is not as great as Rudy's. UGH my poor stomach.

This past weekend, my mom and step-father held a benefit roping for a great family friend, Maizy Walker. Maizy has ovarian cancer. It's so great to see the community come together to support Maizy and the Walker family.

Grandaughters: Kennedy and Brittyn

This is my 3rd roping on the ranch. Sometimes getting the same shots as previous years is inevitable. For the first time, lights were set up for the ropers. Once it got dark, I didn't need my flash. :)

PS. I had a photo epiphany. Epiphanies are simplistic in nature and may seem like common sense, but they click everything into place, and have the power to change your entire approach or viewpoint. Epiphanies are funny like that. Anyway, the other day I went to see photographer Dennis Stock speak at school. Later, some of the graduate students and I went to dinner with him and we got to talking. At the talk, there was some dumb ass kid who questioned Dennis' knowledge regarding objectivity and this kid compared himself to Richard Avedon. This dude called people we photograph 'specimens'. At dinner, Dennis asked if this kid had good pictures and if he connected to his subjects because it seemed outside of photography his arrogance impeded on his ability to have a normal interaction. Then it dawned on me. What sets good photographers apart from great photographers. In order to produce, great thought provoking pictures that pull a polar response from viewers, we as photographers need to not only connect to the subjects we photograph, but connect to all facets of life. We (photographers) need to have this child-like curiousity so we can capture the beauty in often overlooked events. So when I look at great photographers work, this connectivity more than technicality performance sets them apart from other photographers. A photographer has to connect. A photographer has to have soul. Ok enough of my soap box. I tend to ramble late at night. I'll probably delete this tomorrow.

WELL, going to New Orleans tomorrow. Hopefully I will return safe and sound. Not really sure what to expect, kind of overwhelmed actually by the whole prospect of trying to document the rebuilding of the music scenein New Orleans. Making the invisible visible as Tracy Dhalby says.

I don't have any new photos. So in the spirit of this photography blog, I will post some old ones. Taken by Delaney Ora Martin. Tomorrow is Du's 6th Bday.

Every so often I have to look at my photos and my favorite photogs photos and some other websites to keep me from getting bored. Photographers such as JP Beato and Peter Yang. I am mind boggled at half the stuff they do, so much to learn.

The holidays are fast approaching. Hopefully I get to see everyone I want to see. The list is too long.

Ok I have to go to bed. I better enjoy my cloud, this is the last night I get to sleep in it for awhile...3 nights. Haha.

Happy Birthday Grandmother.

For me, part of the process of taking photos of someone I recently met, is getting to know them and hopefully if I have time be conscience of capturing what I know. I haven't had as much time as I would like to take photos. Check out these piglets. This ranch is straight out of that old TV show, 'Mr. Ed'. They have every animal imaginable and I have never seen more tamer horses and the miniature horses are just like kids. They fight with each other, rear ending each other. I think they have some donkey in them. They're really cute. The owner is raising the piglets to be pets or "therapy" animals, animals that sense emotional turmoil in another animal or human and "absorb" that unrest through affection. Kind of like the character in 'Green Mile'. I do believe in the healing power of love. Just some of the language is a bit silly and difficult to believe. Tomorrow I'm photographing autistic children at the ranch. I can't believe the semester is nearly over. I never get as much sleep as I need because I think I am tough and can fit everything I did before school plus school. I can't. Tired of comatose weekends. Piglets (Mom I think Lizzie and Serrana need some friends like these) :

HIDING IN THE HAY

MINIATURE HORSES!! I am doing a photo story on a non-profit organization called Hearts & Hooves. The owner and only paid employee of the organization has miniature horses. People can volunteer to walk the horses and bring them to hospitals, shelters, elderly care homes, etc. Today I went to Town Lake and took pictures of volunteer training. Mom, you need some horses like these. They're so tiny. Kind of scary looking if you ask me. PS. The horse in the bottom picture is older than me, he's 30 years old.

Ok, clearly I am procrastinating and it being a Saturday night, I want to do something fun. So, I just wanted to show off my roommates and my organization skills.

First we have the refridgerator. The bottom shelf is mine, the middle Jean and the top Olivia. Shortest in height to tallest. You'll see why later.

Then we have the pantry. My shelf, Jean's shelf, Olivia's shelf.

Then we have the toiletries and I can't reach the toppermost shelf so that's Olivia's and of course middle is Jean's and mine is bottom Ha feels very collegiate.

Thrilling pictures, I know, It's about how my day has been, catching up on sleep and thinking about this paper I have to write tomorrow. JP & Crystal are in town so we are going to eat mexican food YUM. Back to the paper researching. Hope you enjoyed that little glimpse into my life. Shelves.