It's Funtastick!

The family was in town for Labor Day weekend. I positively love my family. We're so funny. Is that a little bit egotistical? Well, I don't think I care, because there's no sense in denying fact, and it's true that we're just plain funny. Also, I got a new phone with a pretty good camera (3.2 megapixels), so now I can take photographs on the go, even if I don't have my camera!

Our group of friends went to Funtasticks to finish off the weekend. We had a great time. I particularly enjoyed lazer tag (which I came in 3rd. Oh yes!). Poor Hank took a golf ball to the... well... you know, that region. He was a good sport about it, even if he almost died.

Here are some photos from the fun car ride over there.

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Slats

It just recently occurred to me that I'm coming up on my one year mark with this blog. I'm running out of material, and fast. Everyday is a struggle to find something I haven't photographed, something new, a different perspective on something, a better angle at which to capture an object. It's frustrating. But, it has been really rewarding and the response has been so exciting. There have been several people who have stumbled upon my blog via Facebook and then will tell me how much they enjoy it. That makes me so happy to hear. I'm trying, my blog followers. Just keep holding on through the end of September. I'll end this blog then, but you'll have 365 posts to revisit once this has come full circle. Thanks for supporting me in this fun little project! It's really taught me what I like/don't like, how to take photos, how to use my camera, and most of all, expanded my horizons as a photographer. If you have suggestions of something/someplace to shoot, let me know!

Lineage

John Baker was my uncle. As a semi-professional race car driver (in addition to his successful shipping company that was his primary focus), he traveled all around the western United States. His family and mine had been tight for a long time because of how often we were able to get together and enjoy each others company. A freak accident not unlike Dale Earnhardt's took John's life in June of 2002. We don't visit his grave. We don't mope around on the anniversary. Honestly, he probably prefers it that way. I took this photo to admire the new picture frame I bought at Ikea without giving much though to the frame's content, but as I sit here I think about the photograph that resides in that frame on my desk. It's a photo of John in his race car. He died doing what he loved. I hope I can say the same when that day comes for me - that I chase the things that make me happy. My middle name comes from him, and if that commonality links us in any way I hope that it gives me the perseverance, ambition, and passion that he had. Nothing he did in life was a joke - everything was all-out, full-bore, and to-the-limit. Is it only the good that die young? Maybe not only the good, but John fell into that category, and certainly had enough to live for before the accident that took his life. We remember him fondly, and the day that we will meet again will be one of great excitement.

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Rest in peace, John.

Desert Delights

These are from the back yard. Apparently, that really nifty pink/purple flower is on a neat little cactus called an Easter cactus, featured behind the flower in photo 1. Mom taught me that one! My parents are never at a loss when it comes to plants, which is helpful, because the desert plants are all looking beautiful right now, which is kind of a nice compensation considering the winter flowers are on their way out. I'll miss the sweet peas, snap dragons, venidium, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

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Macki came to visit. A woman from the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum came to my optical science class to talk to us about animal vision [which is freaking cool, by the way]. Well, I told Mac all about it, and since I had never been to the Desert Museum we decided to go! These are the photos from that adventure. It was a fun-filled Saturday!

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Past/Present/Future

It would be really really hard to find someone who is more nostalgic than I am. For serious. I think a big reason why I don't want to get old and married is because things right now are so fun - we have such a neat group of friends with such a cool dynamic. Granted, I don't really comprehend the upsides to marriage and eternal companionship because I've never participated in either, so my opinion is probably not the best one to be listening to. Regardless, I love me some nostalgia.

Pin Up

People say, "You are what you eat," right? So, is the same true about what you put on your bulletin board? I think it is. My bulletin board completely sums up what makes a Zac - lots of photographs of fun times and people that I love, a few notes to keep things in perspective, a calendar and receipt to remind myself about FHE, and a pinch of art just for interest's sake. I sure hope I'm not equivalent to what I eat (heaven knows, that would not be a pretty sight), but I would definitely settle for "You are what you put on your bulletin board." Looks like I'm already myself, if that's the case.

Framed

I love picture frames. Displaying memories or art you're proud of is something that I have only recently picked up, but it doesn't get old. Scored some really great frames. I love them.

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Oh, and those funny cardboard things are what came on the edge of the picture frames so that they wouldn't be all bashed up when you opened them. Ikea is so thoughtful compared to Joann Fabric - I had a minor issue with some frames from there once. Haha.