Looking back on the past

Reflection of another lifetime
Originally uploaded by R Stanek

I took this picture last fall, shortly before Sam was born (but after his due date!). Why there was a giant mirror in the backyard, against the garage, I have no idea. But I like the sunlight in the corner, and how it takes a second glance at the picture to register that it's a reflection in a mirror.

Week 9!

New Picture; Old Subject

It's a Zoo Out There!
Originally uploaded by R Stanek

This isn't the first picture I've taken of this awesome carved elephant -- in fact, it was one of my first subjects when I got my camera. But I love it with the lion valentine in the background. Thanks to V for the elephant -- a gift from a while ago -- and to J for the valentine!

Week 8 of Project 52, and a picture I actually took today! Woo!

NBC Fails at the 21st Century

I remember watching the 1988 Winter Olympics, and being completely entranced by speed skater Bonnie Blair. Ever since, I've been an Olympics junkie -- especially speed skating. But it's not 1988 anymore, so I don't know why NBC is broadcasting them like we're still back in the Stone pre-Information Age.

I emailed Dick Ebersol, and while I'm sure none of these emails get read, it was still therapeutic:

Mr. Ebersol:

I am writing to request that you do away with the ridiculous tape
delay of Olympic coverage for the West Coast Olympic fans. This
prevents a quarter of the country from enjoying the coverage with
friends in the rest of the country via Twitter, Facebook, or even the
phone. Why should I watch when I already know the results? It's not
1964 anymore.

And why the emphasis on prime-time coverage? Those of us on the West
Coast are used to live sporting events starting at 5 or 6 p.m.! 100
million Americans watched the Super Bowl, and it wasn't because it was
tape-delayed on the West Coast. We watch Sunday Night Football and
Monday Night Football and the World Series in the early evening -- in
fact, we're not used to staying up until 11 p.m. watching sports!

Please, for the love of god, stop tape-delaying your Olympic coverage.
And remember that the highest-rated broadcast of all time in the U.S.
is the Super Bowl, not some soft-focus feature about how someone
raised by a single parent survived cancer and a torn ACL and an epic
crash in the 2006 Winter Olympics. All we want is live coverage of
the sports, so we can enjoy every thrilling downhill run and crazy
speed-skating collision with the rest of the country.

If you want more anger, check out the nbchate tag on Deadspin. And hope that ABC -- or hell, anyone who's not NBC -- gets the rights to the Olympics someday.

Stringing everyone along

Strings
Originally uploaded by R Stanek

I know I'm late on this week's picture. In my defense, I have a million excuses, including (but not limited to) traveling, the holiday weekend, family in town, and going back to work.

Enough of that. Look! It's another picture with diagonal lines! And as I dig through the archives, I've noticed there are a few colors I'm always drawn to -- mostly oranges and browns. I'm not sure why I never uploaded this picture -- I really like the text on the interior of the piano.

(Also: I've flossed all but two days so far this year. Yay!)

Walking on sunshine

Backlit
Originally uploaded by R Stanek

I'd been wondering how I was going to find time for photography, now that I'm going back to work. And the answer is -- weekend walks with the whole family! Of course. We're having a great winter -- enough rain that the mountains are green again, but lots of sunny days. And apparently I just can't stop looking into the sun. The glow in the late afternoons is perfect.