Slow Times

I finally got out from under the spell of illness yesterday, and my dad, sister and I all headed down to the (once) great city of Detroit to scope some scenes and check the lay of the land. There are still some active parts and definite signs of past glory, however much of the city was in poor shape. Houses falling apart here, boarded up buildings there, no real rhyme or reason to the madness, just things falling apart. My Uncle Al says it has taken only 60 years to turn the city on its head. Pretty amazing. On a brighter note, there were many people using the bus system. Even though it may be out of necessity, I bet more people use public transit here than in Calif.

What illness, you ask? A bad decision in the form of a chicken sandwich led to a brief bout of food poisoning. I guess its good I didn't have any obligations, but it was a rough couple of days. Every time I get sick on vacation I always remember that Calvin and Hobbes comic where Calvin does the same and demands vacation comp time. That cracks me up.

With all that free time, I barreled through a great book about depression-era travelling circus shows called Water for Elephants. The characters were good and the plot well developed, if a bit predictable, but the writing really painted a great picture of how life was on the show. I don't know what it is about the depression era that makes it so fascinating besides the fact that it happened long ago and times were different then. I guess that's exactly what makes it so fascinating. I love photography and pictures for the same reason. Every image taken now could be preserved for the better part of a century and looked back on with the same awe. From the buildings to the cars and even the styles, we document the signs of the times.

Anyway, its a good book and fast read even you aren't ill. Mooney gets in today. Can't wait to see her.

Chicago to Detroit cont'd

Fenster's girlfriend Megan, whom i have not had the pleasure of meeting, has one of the sweetest apartments i have ever seen. the windows are huge and its on the top floor and the fan looks like this in her room.

Paul Myers influenced cityscape.

we took a 5 hour bus ride back to michigan at 830 in the morning. Here is the feez in ann arbor. Would have posted some of these last night but i was busy drinking beer. we went to an irish pub called the Galway Arms which fenster says is one of the only places that actual irish people frequent. the bartender, who came over seven years ago said he was from northern ireland. this prompted fenster to ask, 'do you mean the british part?' he gave us a dirty look to say the least. He says chicago is the greatest city in the world. I thought that was only something my grandpa said.

Chicago to Detroit

Travel is good. Especially when its about going home.


Ms. Mooney at the airport

this guy had a nice airplane setup. For all the gizmos, he slept for about 30 mins of a 3.5 hr, flight.

O'Hare tunnel

Fenster looking slick on the train.

cabs

Rain then Work

This is Al from my job. He is a retired Navy mechanic who now is a tech for all kinds of outdated technology. This guy knows more about eletronics than anybody I have ever met. Seriously, he is like Macgyver with this stuff. He also looks like a denim-clad Santa Claus, especially when holding presents. This one happens to be a model train set, something that Al does as a business on the side.

It finally rained here this week, saving us from another year of record drought conditions. On sunday I go back to Michigan, where the seasons always change.

Finally Finished!

For the most part, that is. Here is Brett moments after his computer crashed. Thank God for auto save.

After a week of living in front of a final cut screen, today we showed our virtually finished docs in class. Shooting video for the last two months was by far the most challenging task I have faced at school. I feel that, with the changes in the industry, it is something in which I need to be way more skilled. I am still learning the differences in utility the video camera allows, and I guess I will always be learning. There were definitely some highs and lows of the class, but I have to say the best part of having a video class was the freedom to shoot whatever I wanted in stills. The only problem was finding the time.

Issues

Be it in class or elsewhere, they surround us.

I Am Sam

Actually, i think my great grandfather was Sam. or perhaps his father. Regardless, there is a Sam Steinberg somewhere up in the family tree. What I am trying to say is that I am officially a blogger.