Modesty

Modesty by Benjamin Shiff


I held on to this image for a very long time and couldn't find the right story to post it with. I finally decided I needed to just post it on it's own merits with a poem from one of my favorite poets, Rod McKuen.

Eleven

The afternoon shadows
gather as the day goes home.
And now the in-between time
before the night
after the day.

Above the gray harbor
the city sits on white houses
waiting for the happenings
and all the boats are in.

A wind is coming up
and we'll be warmer by ourselves at home.
I cannot look at you
reflected in the glass behind this bar
much longer.

I want to be alone with you,
I want my thighs to speak your name
so softly only you can hear.

This place was mad
for those who still play hide-and-seek
we're home free.

San Antonio Trip

Riverwalk Lamp by Finijo

San Antonio was a lot of fun. It was a quick trip just about 24 hours, but we packed a lot into that short time. We ended the trip with dinner at La Margarita's and a walk down the Riverwalk. It was a surprise to us that the Riverwalk is undergoing renovations, so we actually reached a point that we couldn't go forward and had to go back. Hopefully, they will finish the work before Summer.

Demon Trolley Ride by Finijo

Instead of walking back, we took a trolley bus and it was like taking the bus on in Harry Potter. The driver had been on the cell phone before we took off, and she seemed a little pissed off when she started driving and careening through the streets of downtown San Antonio. The only people on the bus were us and an elderly couple, who seemed like they had seen a lot in their time together and they were alright with each other and the world. They were unflappable in the face of our demented demon driver.

I have better shots (clearer) of the trolley, but this one looks the way it felt to be thrown around in the back of that bus while the driver worked out her aggression on the streets of San Antonio.

Halloween

I started Halloween at Little Barnaby's enjoying the comfort of friendly people and good conversation. The picture shown is of Scott (the manager) and Jay (one of our regular waiters). I love the familiarity of Little Barnaby's. I always feel like everyone is happy to see me when I come through the door. I spent Halloween night driving to San Antonio with my best friend. We filled our travel time with laughter and conversation and found out that we make good traveling buddies.

Get Out the Vote Rally

Lotus Effect by Finijo

Mike and I went to Discovery Green Park for the Get Out The Vote rally and had a really good time. It was the first time I visited that park and it is a wonderful addition of green space to downtown Houston.

Mike In Color by Finijo

I took a few shots of Mike while he wasn't looking, but none of them came out as crisp as I had hoped. I used an effect on this shot, because I liked the way he looked in the lamp light in the dusk.

Discovery Pond Dusk by Finijo

The rally was good, but I was already certain of who I would be voting for, so I had more fun taking photos and checking out the park than I did listening to the rah-rah speeches.

Discovery Park Pond by Finijo

I plan to go back to this park and get some more shots at a different time of day. I posted a few of my more abstract photographs on my Deviant Art site.

Galveston One Month Post Hurricane Ike

Jetty and Seawall Post Ike by Finijo

A month after Hurricane Ike, the island opened up again to non-residents. I took a trip with a good friend to do a photo shoot and to explore a bit and see what was left in Ike's wake.

Seawall Mural Post Ike by Finijo

All along the seawall, there was debris. The road and sidewalks stood, but were damaged and in the process of being repaired. Most businesses had not yet reopened. Still, there was life and traffic and much of the debris had already been removed. It was a moving experience to see the island coming back from the brink.

The Unreal by Finijo

Sometimes we catch a glimpse of a loved one we know well and care deeply for, and they don't seem real. The light hits them in just the right way, and quite suddenly we are overtaken by the feeling that they could shed their light tethers and disappear forever. I did not think I would like this photo because of the blurry quality, but it fit a sentiment that occurred to me that night.

Waffle House Chairs by Finijo

One of the few restaurants that was open that night, we were able to get a dinner of eggs at the Waffle House. The food was good and the wait staff was hilarious, so it was one of many evenings to remember.

Death of a Dragonfly

Dragonfly Dying by Finijo

One night I was heading home from a friends house when we spotted this dragonfly. He was dying and it was quite beautiful and strange. I love his color and the way he looks velvety up close. I don't think I have ever really seen a dragonfly until that night. I have noticed them, but they always fly away too quickly to really get a good look at them. I'm glad that he allowed us the opportunity to view him before he went on his way.

Dragonfly Wings by Finijo

His wings were so delicate, but he seemed like he should be able to just fly away when we approached, but we could tell that he did not have long to live. I took the photos and we shot the video together. I messed it up when I got in frame after handing off the camera, but the dragonfly's death dance is mesmerizing and fantastic.




Dragonfly Death Throes by Finijo

Ada's Second Birthday

This is our wonderful Ada bouncing at her second birthday party. I like the way she is having fun with or without the other kids. She's self-sufficient, I like that in a two year old.

Chameleon by Finijo

I took this shot when I arrived home and found this little guy waiting for me at the driveway. I was surprised he let me get as close as he did before scurrying away. They came out in droves after the storm. At least they had plenty of bugs to eat.

Porky Rescue

Give Up by Finijo

About a week after the storm, we went to Kim Son downtown to get something to eat and I noticed this gorilla art on the side of the Cadillac Liquor Store. I really liked the morose irony of the message and the placement.

Rescue Porky by Finijo

While shooting the grafitti, we noticed this skinny black dog wandering way too close to the freeway. I called him and he came and we put him in the car and took home a victim of Hurricane Ike. We took him to the vet and have been treating him and taking care of him and looking for a good home for him. He goes by the name of Porky McLardass and he is sweet and LOVES people (and is fascinated by cats). If you know of anywone who is looking for a wonderful dog who NEEDS love and attention - please, let us know.

Light a Candle for Ike

During Ike, we were without electricity for about 7 days. We went through a lot of candles. BTW, I highly recommend that you stock up on cheap candles and tea lights at IKEA. They are inexpensive and sold in bulk. These are some shots I took in the days after the storm hit. In the perpetual darkness you experience without electricity, the candles can become your only source of entertainment.

7 Candles by Finijo

Shoo Fly 2 by Finijo

Mosquito Demise by Finijo

The Aftermath of Ike

Tree Knocks Down Tree by Finijo

Our most major damage was caused by one tree falling down. It took out our electricity and phone line, it damaged our pergola, and it knocked out one of our favorite trees. Some good came from the storm. I found out that I have friends who can be counted on to be there for us when things are really bad.

Downed Tree by Finijo

The tree that was knocked down by a tree we barely noticed before the storm, was the home to all of our squirrels. The squirrels have relocated to one of our three palm trees in the front yard and they are making a mess of the tree and the yard while they build their new nest.

Tree Cracks Pergola by Finijo

This is some footage Marilyn took of our backyard the morning after Hurricane Ike hit. Bear in mind, we are about 55 miles from the coast. Our neighborhood was without electricity for 3 days, but we were without for a week, because the line to our house was down.

Ike Aftermath by MEG

The Wind Before Ike

This footage was taken around 7:30 PM in my backyard before the arrival of Hurricane Ike to Houston. The hurricane hit later in the evening (around midnight), but the wind was unbelievable hours before it hit land. It was an incredible experience that nobody living in Houston at the time will forget in their lifetime.

Frumpy Does Not Sell

Ugly Mannequin by Finijo

JC Penny's has the most unattractive mannequins hawking their plus size clothing that I have ever seen. The breast on these things are flat and sagging, as though they truly believe that fat women don't own bras.

Frumpy Mannequin by Finijo

This one is a blob. How do they expect fat women to want to buy their clothes when this is what they are telling us they will look like on? What the hell are they thinking? I have to say it - a skinny man designed these mannequins and another skinny man bought them for JC Penny's. What I really wanted to do was get a shot of them unclothed - I just didn't have the courage to look like a total perv undressing the mannequins that day. Next time...

I Want This Thing

I Want by Finijo

I want this thing. It is a lump of cement that once held a sign post in the ground and it looks to me like something that should be made into a statue.

I Want by Finijo (turned)

I have no particular place to put it, but each time I pass it at the corner of Almeda and Blodgett, I imagine myself going at it with a chisel. The pipe dreams of an unmedicated pack rat.

Twas the Night Before Gustav

Galveston Gustav Dusk by Finijo

We went to Galveston the night before Hurricane Gustav was due to hit and in the course of 15 minutes saw the dusk fall and got of a few pretty good shots. I stood out in the ocean to get this shot. I am facing the beach and looking towards the West end of the island.

Ripple Effect by Finijo

We crossed the foot bridge going to Jamaica Beach and just over the dune we watched the sunset and felt blessed to be in the midst of such a beautiful dusk. We were worried about what would be left after Gustav Hit, but were pleased when it landed well away from Galveston.

Rickety by Finijo

I guess we could not imagine that the next Hurricane, Ike, would wipe out just about everything. This bridge, needless to say, is no longer standing. In some ways I feel like Gustav was a bit of foreshadowing for the Gulf Coast and even for me. Many of the things I thought were strong and functional before these pictures were taken, have since proven to be less functional than previously believed and unable to stand the test of time.