Flicker and flame

Inside everyone is a passion, one of mine is for fire. While I have done well in keeping my distance from magnifying glasses and lighters. But I just had to play last night. It was one of those moods I get into. My ice project wasn't making me happy, so opposite end of the spectrum is fire. So, set up a black blanket, whipped out the lighters and butane gel packs. Wait for night, kick on some music and let the fun begin.





Within the first few pictures, I've realized that getting moving flames into focus, is not the easiest task. Especially while I don't see in focus to begin with.






A slight break, to ice my burnt hand. FYI metal gets hot when it's being lit on fire. Then flames again and tried a different placement







It's fun to see how the flames stopped on my camera versus, what I was seeing. I didn't ever see the giraffe or young girl while taking the pictures. At least, that's what they look like to me...

This one is my favorite, which goes with my pattern. More times it's the last pictures I take that make it up on to my wall or into flickr. This one also showed me that my brand new memory card would have write failures if I didn't reformat it every time I used it. Slightly aggravating to do, but should get into the habit of it I'm sure.

As with every post I do, I listened to music with it. But, I can't decide which one to post with it. There is:

Billy Joel - We didn't start the fire. That's a classic and has to be first on a fire list.

Three Days Grace - Burn. Hard rock and brooding.

Bloodhound Gang - Fire Water Burn. Just cause.

Nirvana - Lake of Fire. Acoustic and not too happy.

James Taylor - Fire and Rain. I live in a forest and it's raining while I take them, so it fits.

Vast - Flames. A very emotional song...classical and darkness. Always a good mix.

But all of those songs just didn't fit what I wanted. Some were way too loud, others meant more then I wanted to say. So I let Pria pick. She picked one I hadn't thought of. Good Ole Gwen :)

Wing dings

Can't beat ducks in my book. Especially these guys. Just like ducks.



A bunch of vulchers flying around the vista house out in the gorge. Hunting for lunch, I'm sure. Pretty cool to watch them all cricling above us...at least for me. The eldery couple looked worried.

Through the past

I've never been to a war memorial. Well, no. I did go to Pearl Harbor, but I really didn't get that it was a memorial. I was like...8 maybe? My world revolved around swimming. We went today, instead of me going to a cemetery. Was more in the mood for darker pictures but I found a certain lack of objects and a simpler invoking happening there.

It's very quiet there. Which is odd, because in the parking lot...it's really not. A simple marker at the beginning of the park explains the origins. Then you have a long view of a solitary path ending in a circular area. While I originally thought it was the end, it instead had a hidden path working around the sloped hill to small granite alcoves. While still listing the Vietnam War and ensuing conflicts on the memorials. They focused still on what life was like for those that were here. The great storms we had, county fairs and school triumphs. It gave it more of a, we still lived a life while this happened feeling. I liked that.



In the Alcoves, they listed names. I assumed they were of soldiers that died that year. Sadly as most memorials go, each year added more and more names to the lists. Until the walls were almost completely covered. Still I did not feel a sense of look at everyone who died. It was more, like you could imagine them walking on that path and seeing that even at the worst times, life still kept going. That there death wasn't the only thing people wanted to share. To me, anyways.



As the walk continued around the circle and up, it was hard to miss the growing impact of the war. The good times seemed to be fading faster in the dialogue of the walls. The names began to white out the dark stone and grim stories of fighting here and there. Marches for peace and death tolls rising. By the end you feel the strain of the war, as much as a spectator can.



...And every time you throw him to the wall, why are you surprised to see he's breakable...

Removed from here

Nature is easy. No complicated requirements. You drive to it, when you deem the time is right. You silently admire, capture the beauty and leave. Nothing more is expected. Nothing more is needed. I have been away from it too long. Loosing the connection I once found.


















...I will run for shelter. Endless summer, lift the curse. It feels like nothing matters. In our private universe. I have all I want, is that simple enough. Theres a whole lot more I'm thinking of. Every night about six oclock. The birds come back to the palm to talk. They talk to me, birds talk to me. If I go down on my knees. I will run for shelter. Endless summer, lift the curse. It feels like nothing matters. In our private universe. And its a pleasure that I have known. And its a treasure that I have gained. And its a pleasure that I have known...